erry Gardens - previously known as KG Growers - was principally focused on the wholesale market, but as with so many fresh produce businesses, the rise of the supermarkets changed the way it did business.
Managing director Nick Marston says the growth of the supermarkets led to the berry market quadrupling in size, and hence contributed to the growth of Berry Gardens. “This was partly due to supermarkets giving very good footage to British berries. Yes, there is pressure to produce a reliable product, hence the tunnels, and we invest £9m a year in cooling technology, but with any investment there is a return on investment.”
The company has just launched a new strawberry variety, Driscoll’s Diamond, into Marks & Spencer, which Marston describes as a “beautiful, high-quality berry”. On raspberries, Berry Gardens currently has a 65 per cent share of the market, mainly with Driscoll Maravilla, so the company is extending the season and producing the crop in ever-greater quantities. Blueberry production is also being expanded in Scotland, offering what was traditionally an imported fruit from local producers.
Marston believes the market for blackberries will continue to grow, looking ahead to the next decade, as better eating varieties that don’t have to be cooked become more widely available. He also believes cherries will become big business and “will do what strawberries did in the ‘80s and ‘90s and become a mainstream offer for consumers.” -
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