UK berry growers’ cooperative KG Growers has said it recorded a turnover of around £100m (€114m) for 2008, despite what the company described as a “challenging” season.
The results were announced at the group’s 37th annual general meeting, held in Dunkeld, Scotland, during which it detailed the performance of the cooperative’s strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, blueberry cherry and plum production.
In a statement, KG Growers’ chairman, Marion Regan, said that despite challenging weather and trading conditions in 2008, the cooperative’s growers maintained high standards of service and supply of all berry types.
Mrs Regan said that the reorganisation of marketing operation Berry Gardens earlier this year, under which business partner Driscolls focused on continental Europe, while KG took sole charge of UK marketing, would allow the company to focus all its effort on the domestic market.
KG’s chairman said that the company was currently in a “robust financial position”, which was being bolstered by growers’ reinvestment in crops and infratructure.
“Early indications are for a stronger and more customer focused offer from UK growers this season,” she said.
At the meeting, Mrs Regan also thanked David Macgregor, who will retire as Berry Gardens’ finance director at the end of May. “David has been instrumental in building up our company, since the establishment of KG Fruits in 1996 – he leaves us a solid legacy on which to build,” she said.
Mr Macgregor will be replaced by Nick Allen, who joined the business six years ago from KPMG.
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