Herbs Unlimited to supply new range for Spar North

Spar North has added a new range of herbs supplied by James Hall & Co. 

The retailer has agreed a deal with North Yorkshire business Herbs Unlimited to initially supply six popular herbs in basil, chives, coriander, curly parsley, mint, and rosemary.

Available in a large 50g bag, the new deal follows on from Herbs Unlimited introducing Yorkshire-grown curly kale to Spar’s north of England stores through James Hall & Co. in December 2023.

Herbs Unlimited was formed in 1993 when Alison Dodd, mother of current managing director Philip Dodd, changed career after spotting a gap in the market.

She began growing herbs to sell directly to the hospitality sector when she found no consistency in the regular supply of fresh herbs to the restaurant where she was head chef.

The business has blossomed in the three decades since and it is the only remaining commercial grower of fresh herbs in Northern England. Yorkshire-grown herbs are supplied between March and October.

From its base at Sandhutton near Thirsk, Herbs Unlimited grows a core range of 17 herbs, 28 speciality herbs, 16 varieties of edible flowers, and a range of salad and leaf vegetables including chard, kale, and spinach.

Spar’s Wilf Whittle said: “We are very pleased to establish a partnership with the award-winning Herbs Unlimited. Like us, they are a family business, and this is a positive step forward in enabling us to add a range of high-quality fresh herbs to our strong fresh portfolio.

“The Yorkshire-grown curly kale supplied by Herbs Unlimited has proven very popular in Spar stores this winter, and has complemented our offering of broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower as a nutritious addition to the dinner table.

“Recent seasons have showed us that products like kale, cavolo nero, and spinach have seen growth in our stores. They are convenient ingredients that can be added to a number of meals, providing great taste and health benefits.

“We want to naturally develop this range going forward and inspire more people to think about cooking fresh food when they enter our Spar stores Northern England. When customers think of fresh, tasty herbs and vegetables, we want them to think of Spar.”