Editing Central Plains Group

==Summary==

Central Plains Group (CPG) is an established profitable farming company with a clear vision to build an integrated zero-waste farming and processing operation to supply the rapidly expanding starch, bioplastics and plant protein markets globally, expected to be worth more than $30bn by 2026.

* Founders have successfully listed and sold previous farming business
* Current farming operations underpinned by 4-year contract with Pepsico until 2023
* Achieved revenue of over £3m and net profit of £300,000 in 2020
* £6.1m raised to date from investors in Farming, CleanTech & FMCG

==Idea==

The founders of CPG previously built and ran a large-scale farming operation in Eastern Europe for over 25 years, consisting of over 200,000 hectares with revenues of $250m+, delivering a profitable trade sale to investors via an IPO listing.

This time, we aim to take things to the next level.

We want to leverage our experience to develop an extensive farming and processing operation that a) produces high-quality potatoes and b) uses all by-products and waste to provide low-carbon starch and vegetable proteins to key markets across a number of industries as part of a zero-waste bio-economy.

In our first 12 months of operations, we have established our core feedstock farming platform in Ukraine:

* 500 hectares of potatoes planted
* 13,000 tonnes of specialist warehousing built
* 11,000 tonnes of crisping potatoes supplied to Pepsico & Ukraine Supermarkets
* Over £3m revenue achieved with a net profit of £300,000

We have identified significant market opportunities in the potato starch, vegetable proteins and bioplastics industries, which are set to be worth over $30bn by 2026. We are now raising investment to move to the next stage of our growth, which will see the construction of a 15 tonne/hour starch production facility which we intend to be powered by a green energy source.

We believe this is industry innovation in action and we hope you’ll join us.

==Team==

'''Mark Laird - Chief Executive Officer'''

Mark co-founded the former business, Continental Farmers, in 1994, spearheading the IPO listing & subsequent trade sale to a Saudi consortium. Also has farming interests in Poland & Scotland.

'''Diarmid Johnston - Chief Operating Officer (PT)'''

A graduate of the Scottish Agricultural College, with significant farming experience in the UK & abroad. He is also a founder of Agrico Poland a subsidiary of the seed breeder & global potato trader.

'''Dr Keith Dawson - Technical Advisor/Director'''

Keith is a globally recognised crop, renewable energy & environmental specialist. He was the Principal Crop Consultant at the Scottish Agricultural College & has held advisory roles with the likes of Shell and BASF.

'''Richard Janaway - Farming Advisor/Director'''

Richard has extensive farming experience and is a specialist potato grower and one of the suppliers to Walkers UK. He is Chairman of Saltire and Shire Growers - potato co-operatives.

'''Alastair Stewart - Chief Financial Officer'''

A chartered accountant with extensive FMCG experience in international groups from Allied Domecq, Constellation Brands to Baxters Foods. He also managed the IPO & subsequent sale of Continental Farmers.

'''Oleg Drin - Director (PT)'''

Board representative for K Hartwall Invest, key Finnish investor in CPG, MBA Kingston University, PhD Economics Kiev. Experienced Corporate Finance & Investment Advisor.