Herbs Unlimited is now one of the leading northern suppliers for baby leaf salads and fresh herbs, thanks partly to the help of the Yorkshire Regional Food Group (RFG).
The North Yorkshire-based herb producer has grown rapidly since it was founded by managing director Alison Dodd in 1993, and now supplies large orders for fresh herbs, baby salads and spinach to food manufacturers and wholesalers.
Dodd, pictured, said: “We are able to offer a point of difference and inspiration to our customers. Our success is largely down to our cost effective, high-quality, environment-friendly products and, above all, listening to our customers’ needs.”
The company started off producing small orders of fresh herbs for local hotels and restaurants. Having previously worked as a Cordon Bleu chef and restaurateur, Dodd was able to identify a gap in the market for fresh herbs, and understood catering trade requirements.
The RFG helped Herbs Unlimited install a Managed Online Learning Environment (MOLE) to train staff in food hygiene, health and safety, and product quality.
“It is a much more efficient way of training because we do not lose people for an entire day,” said Dodd. “They can fit the training in when we are quieter.”
She also believes that attending the RFG’s ‘Meet the Buyer’ events and ‘Skilfully’ workshops have helped Herbs Unlimited attract new business and led to contracts with both Sainsbury’s and Waitrose.
“We were a niche market when I started out, as a lot of people were still happy to use dried herbs,” added Dodd. “Now fresh herbs have become a commodity crop, so we have to look at offering something others are not. Our aim is to increase our food processing side by introducing herbs into sauces and chilled meals.”
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