William Burgess is the chief executive of leading UK supplier Produce World, based in Peterborough, England. The company supplies a broad range of vegetables, including carrots, onions, garlic, beetroot, parsnips, turnips, broccoli, cauliflower and artichokes.
Fruitnet.com: How did you first get into the fresh produce business?
WB: My family are fourth generation farmers and fresh produce wholesalers, so it was in the blood.
When did you start working for Produce World?
WB: Produce World was created from the merger of Russell Burgess Ltd and Sutton Bridge Ltd. I joined the former, my family business, in 1995.
What other roles have you had at the company?
WB: I worked as the finance director for Russell Burgess Ltd, as well as managing director of one of the subsidiaries, Isleham Fresh Produce Ltd.
Where did you work before?
WB: I previously worked at Thomas May & Co, which is a firm of chartered accountants.
What do you see as the biggest challenge currently facing the fresh produce industry?
The main challenge is balancing the risk of losing business, or having your margins squeezed, against the major investment that is needed to lead the sector forward.
Describe your typical day-to-day schedule?
WB: I normally get into the office at about 7am. I start by catching up on emails and reading any reports. I will then normally have a number of meetings, from board meetings to one-to-ones with my team. Frequently I will visit our sites and farms during the afternoon.
What’s the first thing you do when you sit down at your desk?
WB: The first thing I do is catch up with emails and use the quiet time to plan the day ahead.
Do you prefer doing business over the phone or via email, or both?
WB: I enjoy doing both, but emails can be dangerous. I often find that having a proper conversation is better than merely sending an email.
How many people are there on your team?
WB: There are six people who directly report to me. We employ around 1,400 people in the whole group.
How much travelling is involved in your work?
WB: I travel approximately 20,000 miles within the UK annually, and I take probably four to six foreign trips every year.
Where have you been lately and where are you planning to go next?
WB: My latest business trip was to Spain, where we have our own farming business working with the Domenech family, Agromark. The next country I hope to visit is Israel, in the autumn.
What do you love in particular about your job and what, if anything, would you change about it?
WB: It’s great to see the whole supply chain from start to finish. I love the growing side and working with other farmers, but it’s great to see our products on supermarket shelves and to be part of a winning strategy with our customers.
If I could change anything about the business, it would be to get greater long-term certainty into supply contracts. After all, we frequently find ourselves living on a knife-edge!
What do you do to unwind after a tough day at work?
I usually go for a run or to the gym.
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