Allfresch trader excelled in both procurement and sales and had a loyal global customer base
Talented fresh produce salesman Richard Emanuel has died aged just 43.
Over the course of his career in the industry, which spanned almost three decades, Richard worked at Optimus Fruit, Gilgrove, Poupart, Total Produce, and Allfresch (formerly Fruesh), where he spent 12 years before dying on an exploratory mission for the business in Spain.
Andrew Sperling, MD at Allfresch, described Richard as a joy to work with and said he had never met someone so young with his range of abilities in the fruit trade.
Richard excelled in both procurement and sales and had built up a loyal global customer base. Having started out selling a few pallets of bananas in Surrey, he finished his career selling container loads of bananas and other exotic fruits to retailers in countries as far flung as Kuwait, Tibet and Iraq.
Born at St Helier Hospital, on 8 July 1982, Richard grew up in Sutton and Tadworth and went to school at Belmont Primary School and latterly The Ashcombe School, in Dorking. Never the academic, he particularly enjoyed playing football and along with his family, supported AFC Wimbledon.
Leaving school at 16, Richard took his first steps in the fruit business with Dave’s Bananas in Surrey, a local retail and wholesale operation.
After six months, he moved to Optimus Fruit, following father Paul and cousin Philip into what was already a multi-generational family of wholesalers in New Covent Garden Market.
Around six months later, he joined Philip at Gilgrove, also at NCGM. As a wholesaler and importer, Gilgrove gave him a broader perspective on the industry that would stand him good stead over the next few years.
Richard left the market in 2002 to work with Paul, who was running the Poupart office in Epsom. Philip joined them in 2004, and they enjoyed a successful period supplying the UK’s wholesale markets, including NCGM, for the national firm.
Richard eventually moved on again, first to join Total Produce and then Fruesh, which later became Allfresch, where he worked for the last 12 years of his life.
He had struggled with alcoholism for some time and Philip said Sperling was fabulous in giving Richard hope at difficult times by ensuring his job was kept open for him until he recovered.
His funeral was very well attended, and the family has expressed its gratitude to everyone who has shown their love and respect for Richard since his passing.
Richard was not married, but leaves a son, Freddie, his mum and dad Pat and Paul, and his brother Tom.
