SPAR wholesaler thanks North West producers for exceptional service during COVID-19

SPAR wholesaler for the north of England, James Hall & Co., would like to thank its network of independent North West producers for going above and beyond during the coronavirus pandemic.

Wilf Whittle, fresh trading manager at James Hall & Co. said: “Before the pandemic, we had refreshed our fruit and vegetable offering to champion North West growers and this relationship has proved invaluable during the pandemic.

“COVID-19 presented us with a perfect storm: panic buying, yo-yo sales and supply chain disruptions, and British farmers have faced many challenges in finding enough skilled pickers at harvest time and adapting to social distancing.

“We work with farms in Southport, Formby, Tarleton, Hesketh Bank and Mere Brow, many of which are multiple generation farms and have decades of farming expertise. These farms provide a stream of fantastic local produce, delivered straight from farm to fork, including Lancashire new potatoes, gem lettuce, leeks and chillies, broccoli and courgettes, swede and cabbage.”

Wilf added: “We couldn’t be more grateful for the support these family farms have shown us, in ensuring independent SPAR retailers could continue to offer fresh and nutritional produce to communities across the north of England.”

JNH Hornby is a fourth generation, brassica farm with 120 acres of reclaimed Lancashire marshland in Hesketh Bank. Growing the very finest broccoli and cauliflower since the 1930s, the team are proud advocates of British farming.

Kate Hornby said: “Farmers have to endure lots of difficult periods throughout the growing season and the buyers at SPAR appreciate this and understand the challenges we face.

“By buying British, you are buying local produce that is super fresh and often in the shop the day after harvesting: our products are grown by local people with a real passion for putting quality British produce on your plate.”

Gore Hall farm in West Lancashire has been farmed by seven generations of the Cropper family, supplying high quality fresh salads including Iceberg lettuce; celery; little gem; flat lettuce and Romaine lettuce.

With 500 acres of outdoor land and some 10 acres of computer controlled glasshouses, Gore Hall provides delicious, fresh crops throughout the growing season.

Richard Cropper said: “Working with local suppliers is better for the environment, helps to support independent, family businesses and boosts our local economy. Our partnership with James Hall & Co. allows our products to be distributed quickly and efficiently across the north of England, ensuring freshness and reducing waste.”

Wilf Whittle said: “Working with farms local to our SPAR Distribution Centre in Preston, enables more flexibility in meeting demand surges, ensures that products are at their freshest when delivered into store, and provides full traceability and a reduction in transport carbon emissions.

“To name only a few, we’d like to say a huge thank you to Gore Hall; T & E Forshaws; JNH Hornby; Huntapac; Dobsons Potatoes; Malbro Farms; Westshore Chillies; and JJ Thompsons. All of our North West producers are incredibly proud to be playing their part in feeding communities across the north of England during this national crisis.”

The North West growers are pictured in front of James Hall & Co.'s new vehicle livery, celebrating the company's partnership with the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation and NHS staff across the north of England.