Fruit trade veteran Douglas Kemp of Redbridge AFI retired this week although he will still be maintaining "a close interest" in the firm's activities advising Mockbeggar and helping with its search for new soft fruit varieties through subsidiary Redeva. "Without your integrity and high standards, the UK particularly would not be where it is today," Redbridge AFI chairman Mike Taylor told Kemp on his retirement. "You put it on the map."

Kemp's career stretches back 50 years encompassing wholesaling, distribution and retailing. He brought much of the soft fruit industry together through the establishment of Kentish Garden effectively becoming one of the first category managers. He was also the first to introduce lidded punnets, import iceberg lettuce and develop sales to airline caterers.