Peter Cooper, a veteran of 47 years on the London wholesale market scene, has sold his eponymous company at Western International to Walter Braund (Western) Ltd.
The sale of Peter Cooper (Fruit) Ltd went through on January 2, and Walter Braund has added the company into its existing Western business.
Cooper, 62, will now retire, having followed both his father and grandfather into the wholesale fruit trade in 1960. He began his career with British & Brazilian in the old Covent Garden, and had two spells with Simons & Co, split by a year in France with Gerfruit.
He opened his own company at Western in 1978.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed all my years in this trade,” he told freshinfo. “It has been a good career, and provided me with a good income and the opportunity to have lots of fun with a lot of people. I would like to thank all my friends, suppliers and customers for their support over many years.
“I’m delighted to have sold the company to John Johnson at Walter Braund, and wish Sammy and his team continued success in the future. This is a good move for them and a good move for me. I was sad, of course, when I decided the time had come to sell, but at the time of the sale and since, 10 per cent of me is sad and 90 per cent ecstatic.
“I will continue with the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers and also my work as a City of London guide, but essentially I am retired,” said Cooper.
