We strive to ensure our operations are environmentally sound and continue to look for ways to improve our processes.

Offering regional distribution and national coverage, Tunnel Tech’s experience and expertise is unrivalled in the world of modern composting.

Tunnel Tech manufactures mushroom compost at two primary sites; one in Yorkshire, which incorporates the most modern phase III compost operation in the UK and Ireland, and the other in Hampshire, which also plans to have phase III compost during 2008.

We have dedicated “spawn running” facilities located close to both composting sites, where we prepare compost to a “fully grown” stage prior to dispatch to growers.

The mushroom casing soil business – English Casing Blenders (ECB) – operates out of Pollington in Yorkshire, offering nation-wide distribution of “ready-mix” casing; in particular its award winning reduced peat formula – “RPC”.

Through a newly formed business, The Premier Mushroom Company, Tunnel tech now also has four mushroom farms, growing high quality organic mushrooms. The Premier Mushroom Company has grown rapidly and now provides organic mushrooms to most major multiple retail outlets.

Tunnel Tech can also offer design and build consultancy services to the composting world at large. Tunnel Tech has demonstrated on numerous occasions how its systems and operations are “the solution” to professional waste composting, and we fully expect to play a leading role in the waste disposal industry in the future.

Our vision

Recognised as the UK’s leaders in the use of innovative composting technology, Tunnel Tech has continued to strive for improvement and is a “lead participant” in DEFRA funded work on environmentally improved composting systems. We have invested several hundred thousand pounds to make sure we meet all EU environmental legislation.

All of our operating plants have received continuous investment in line with our policy and aspiration to become a world class composting company. We are a “people business” whose people are ambitious to succeed and grow the business for the future.

The skills within Tunnel Tech allow us to combine the operation of a large-scale modern business with building customer relationships which are second to none. We have won a solid reputation for delivering a product and service to be proud of. We think of our business as a “true partnership” between supplier and customer. Our team is focused not only on reliably providing a consistently 1st class product to our customers, but also on offering strategic solutions to them, and in partnership with them.

This understanding of our customers’ needs and problems helps us to develop long term solutions for the growth and development both of our business and of theirs. As Tunnel Tech has grown since its foundation in 1985 to become one of the UK’s leading players in the mushroom industry, it has developed the knowledge, the facilities, the people and the financial backing to ensure the future of British mushroom growers within the increasingly demanding world of food retailing.

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Our team

“Working as one but delivering solutions for two” is core to our business principles and we pride ourselves that we make composting a “people business”.

The Management team who have put this commitment to customer satisfaction at the heart of our business are:

Martyn J Dewhurst – Managing Director, Tunnel Tech Group Martyn is responsible for strategic direction within the group, and is still largely responsible for customer care and development. He continually pushes the message of the importance of customer care to every person employed within Tunnel Tech, and drives the vision within the business not only of succeeding in mushrooms but also of extending our expertise into the wider world of waste composting.

Simon Middlebrook – Director & General Manager of Tunnel Tech North Ltd.The Middlebrook family involvement in mushroom growing dates back to the early part of the 1900’s. Today, Simon’s skills as “a composter” are widely acknowledged throughout the mushroom growing world, and he has played a major part in the successful development and continuing expansion of the only commercial phase III composting operation in the UK.

Michael Cawkwell – Production Manager of Tunnel Tech North Ltd. Michael has been with Tunnel Tech North for ten years. He has worked through all departments to become knowledgeable and proficient in all aspects of the business. His natural aptitude has seen him progress to become one of the best composters in the UK, and a key member of the team.

Tim Harker – Director & General Manager of Tunnel Tech Ltd. Tim started with the company in 1989 following a successful period of training at one of the country’s largest mushroom growing farms. Now running one of the most efficient compost businesses in the UK, he is responsible for the successful growth of our organic compost sales. Tim is currently working on plans for the construction of a brand new Phase III facility at Leckford.

Julie Wilkinson – Accounts Manager, Tunnel Tech Group Julie has developed into one of the finest accounts managers in the industry. With an intimate knowledge of the business and a passion for accuracy, Julie’s skills play a vital role in ensuring that the companies within the group remain financially responsible in their approach to the development of the business.

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Tunnel Tech, as a producer of mushroom compost, operates within the confines of pollution prevention and control legislation. Authorisations are issued by the District Councils, based on Guidance Notes issued by the Secretary of State for the Environment.

As a business, Tunnel Tech is committed to work towards the continuous improvement of its operating systems and procedures to ensure that it is able to attain the standards set by Government and minimise its impact on the local communities. Indeed, the many hundreds of thousands of pounds we have invested have ensured that we not only meet but exceed all such standards.

Tunnel Tech has been, and continues to be a lead partner in HortLink, the UK Government’s principal mechanism for supporting collaborative research partnership between UK industry and the research base, as the industry seeks improvements in the environmental impact of mushroom composting.

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