Soft-fruit giant S&A Produce has experienced a drop in profits but a rise in turnover in its most recent financial year.
According to accounts released to Companies House for the year to 31 December 2013, the Herefordshire-based company saw turnover increase by more than £3 million on the previous financial year to £57m, with profits before tax in the same period falling from just under £1.1m to £864,000.
The family-owned firm - a grower, packer, importer and exporter of soft fruit and asparagus with over 60 years' fresh produce experience - is the largest independent specialist strawberry grower in the UK. It supplies multiple retail customers across the UK and mainland Europe.
Trevor Gregory, a director at S&A Produce, said: 'As with any business in the fresh produce sector, growing conditions have a significant influence over availability of produce. This is particularly the case with soft fruit, and the use of polytunnels by soft-fruit growers to protect the crop from the elements is a critical component in ensuring availability.
'The company sells its produce to a small number of large, multiple retail customers. Reliance on a small customer base is potentially a risk, and the company seeks to mitigate this risk by maintaining strong relationships with its key customers and providing high service levels.'
He added: 'The company's strategy is geared towards ensuring availability to consumers of UK-produced soft fruit and asparagus at affordable prices. In addition, the company intends to further improve its service to its key UK customers by sourcing good-quality imported produce when UK produce is not available.'
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