John Breach has been honoured for his services to the industry with the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers’ Lewis Award.
The award, which was presented to Breach by the Fruiterers’ new Master Cheryl Roux at the livery company’s banquet on 13 February, isgiven triennially to an individual with distinguished achievements in the marketing of fresh fruit.
Breach was born into a Kent farming family, and went on to join the East Malling Research station plantation assistant scheme.
He completed work experience on a nursery in Villers-Cotterets in France, and sufficiently impressed owner Charles Andre that he appointed Breach to be his UK agent. The 50 years of association between the two businesses was celebrated last year.
The wider interests of the British tree fruit industry have always been close to the heart of Breach, who has been a committee member of the National Fruit Show for over 46 years and started the British Independent Fruit Growers’ Association.
He is crediting with playing a crucial role in initiating the Cox and Bramley campaigns to promote these two varieties, and has lobbied relentlessly on issues related to the relationship between multiple retailers and their fresh produce supply base. His work helped lead to the establishment of the Groceries Code Adjudicator.
Upper wardenDavid Simmonssaid: “John Breach has made a difference and he is therefore a most worthy winner of the Lewis Award.”
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