Transform Agriculture with Technology
Dillon's Strawberry Farm is revolutionising UK agriculture by combining traditional farming expertise with modern vertical grow tower technology. Our roadmap charts the path from 28 towers today to a full 500-tower operation — and beyond.
From Launch to First Harvest: The 12-Month Roadmap
The Manchester Solar-Berry Hub has a clear, phased 12-month path from investment to first commercial harvest. Each phase builds on the last, with no single point of failure. --- **Phase 1 — Months 1–3: Foundation** - Site acquisition on Greater Manchester fringe - Planning permission strategy and grid isolation plan confirmed - Supplier contracts locked in for towers, solar, and water systems - Investment structure finalised --- **Phase 2 — Months 4–6: Infrastructure** - 5 × 40ft container and 2 × canopy delivery and installation - 100kWp industrial solar array installed and commissioned - 40kL rainwater storage system installed - CC Combi 8000 rainwater harvesting and filtration operational --- **Phase 3 — Months 7–9: Growing Systems** - 1,000 vertical grow towers assembled and plumbed - **80,000 strawberry runners planted** (80 plants per tower × 1,000 towers) - Central overhead feeding system commissioned — no individual pumps per tower - Oase BioTec Grass-Tea bio-filtration system commissioned - Bee colonies introduced for natural pollination - VIQUA UV sterilisation system operational --- **Phase 4 — Months 10–12: First Harvest** - Vegetative growth and Bio-Tea fermentation cycle - First commercial harvest achieved - Wholesale and direct-to-consumer supply chains activated - Revenue generation begins --- **Confirmed Setup Cost (Updated Bill of Materials)** | Item | Cost | |---|---| | 1,000 × Vertical Grow Towers (£100 each) | £100,000 | | Solar & Battery System | £16,650–£21,900 | | 5 × 40ft Shipping Containers | £12,500–£20,000 | | 2 × Canopies (@ £1,800 each) | £3,600 | | Central Overhead Feeding System | £3,100–£4,520 | | Lighting System | £9,250–£12,500 | | Installation & Miscellaneous | £4,000–£6,000 | | **Total CapEx** | **£149,100–£168,520** | | **Land Rental (annual overhead)** | **£17,500/year (£1,458/month)** | *Note: Eligible for government grants, capital allowances, or reduced VAT for sustainable farming — can reduce costs by 20–40%.* **Updated Return on Investment (ROI) — 80 Plants per Tower** | Scale | Plants | Annual Revenue | ROI vs CapEx | |---|---|---|---| | 28 towers | 2,240 | £14,784 | — | | 120 towers | 9,600 | £63,360 | ~42% | | 500 towers | 40,000 | £264,000 | ~175% | | 1,000 towers | 80,000 | £528,000 | ~350% | *All figures are estimates only and not financial advice. A phased rollout reduces upfront capital requirements. Contact Anthony to discuss a staged investment plan.*
Current: 28 towers (test phase) Target: 120 → 500 → 1,000 towers
28 towers currently produce approximately **840 kg/year** (40 plants × 0.75 kg/year). At 120 towers: **3,600 kg/year**. At 500 towers: **15,000 kg/year**. At 1,000 towers: **30,000 kg/year**. **Off-Grid Infrastructure (120-tower commercial scale)** | System | Specification | |---|---| | Solar Array | 20kWp Industrial | | Battery Storage | 20kWh All-In-One | | Rainwater Harvested | 437,000 litres/year | | Water Treatment | RO + UV Filtration | | Structure | 5 × 40ft Containers + 2 × Canopies | | LED Lighting | Full-spectrum across towers | | Refrigeration | Foster EP 1440 H EcoPro G3 (+1°/+4°C) | | Energy Bills | £0 (solar-offset) | | Water Bills | £0 (rainwater-fed) | | Plant Nutrients | ~£1,000/year (~50% offset by grass cuttings) | | Land Rental | £17,500/year (£1,458/month) — 5,000 sq ft | **Revenue at Scale (Mixed Channel: 70% retail @ £4.00, 30% wholesale @ £2.40)** | Scale | Towers | Plants | Yield | Revenue | |---|---|---|---|---| | Test Phase | 28 | 1,120 | 840 kg | £7,392 | | Phase 1 | 120 | 4,800 | 3,600 kg | £31,680 | | Phase 2 | 500 | 20,000 | 15,000 kg | £132,000 | | Phase 3 | 1,000 | 40,000 | 30,000 kg | £264,000 | *Monthly burn: £1,458 (land only) — flat across all phases within the 5,000 sq ft site. Estimates only, not financial advice.*
40
Plants per tower
Each tower holds 40 plants. Central overhead manifold replaces individual pumps — no pump per tower, no electricity cost per tower. Estimates only.
3,600 kg
Annual yield — 120 towers
120 towers × 40 plants × 0.75 kg/year = 3,600 kg/year. Revenue: £31,680 (mixed channel). Monthly fixed burn: £1,458. Estimates only.
£1,458
Monthly fixed burn (all scales)
Land rental only. Energy: £0 (solar-offset). Water: £0 (rainwater-fed). Nutrients: ~£1,000/yr (~50% offset). Burn rate does not rise as towers scale within the 5,000 sq ft site. Estimates only.
£132,000
Revenue — 500 towers
500 towers × 40 plants = 20,000 plants. Annual yield 15,000 kg. Mixed channel: 70% retail @ £4.00, 30% wholesale @ £2.40. No additional land rental. Estimates only.
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