Nick Kelly

Nick Kelly

There is a new kid on the block on the soft-fruit scene, now that Berries R Us Ltd opened for business last month.

The Kent-based firm is operating from a new facility at Winterwood Farm, near Sutton Valence.

The soft-fruit specialist is focused solely on direct catering and wholesale with the aim of bringing the chef and his menu closer to the grower and his production periods, by planning menus to meet production in the right way, to increase berry sales and consumption.

Nick Kelly, sales director at Berries R Us, told FPJ: “This will also give us the ability to increase the use of UK berries in these areas, as the balance between imports and UK fruit on catering menus is out of kilter, due to almost all good UK soft fruit being targeted at the multiples, forcing the catering and wholesale sector to use imported berries to satisfy the required specification.

“The UK grower needs help in getting closer to the menu, which will give him an attractive alternative to the multiples, and Berries R Us will be that link.”

The supplier is to develop an organic berry menu and focus on specialist packs of mixed and alternative berries, which have both shown potential.