JR Holland has won the Capespan sponsored Wholesalers of the Year award at Re:fresh. A first-time winner of this award, JR Holland had not previously entered, and felt that due to continued success and a particularly good last 12 months, the time was right to throw its hat into the ring.
Under the leadership of John Holland, the JR Holland Group has more than 40 years experience and now consists of three traditional wholesale produce businesses, a flower and plant wholesale business and a foodservice business. The independently owned North East and Yorkshire based company, has begun to dominate its field in both regions, moving from a £1 million turnover and 12 employee base in 1991 to a turnover of £40m and 200 employee pool to date.
A vertically and horizontally integrated business, JR Holland has become increasingly powerful as many of its wholesale counterparts have disappeared through closure and the marketplace has consolidated.
The company has recognised that it has an obligation, as a market leader, to lead by example in terms of technical and commercial innovation. Investment in infrastructure, IT and equipment has focused on increasing efficiency and customer service. Major investment has also been the implementation of an integrated marketing strategy to support the overall business and sector objectives, clearly communicate the group’s structure and product offer and support the industry’s key agendas, such as healthy eating, 5 A DAY and Eat in Colour. This energetic campaign has helped to reinvigorate public interest in the industry and drawn the attention of influential bodies such as One NorthEast. Other candidates in this category were Barton & Redman and Fruity Fresh.
