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Organic growth

On a positive note, growth has come through acquisition for Hunt’ s Food Group. In July, it acquired Forest Produce – a South Devon fine food wholesaler and formerly a customer of the group’ s Fine Food Company. Specializing in premium produce such as truffles and morel mushrooms, and with its own Forest Originals range of chutneys, herbs, and spices, the £ 8 million turnover business

sits neatly alongside the group’ s more everyday offering. The family-owned business has kept its senior team, and sales

are already around eight percent up on last year.“ It’ s a great fit for us on the fine food side,” highlights Thomas.

Closer to home, the company has developed a 2.2-acre site about 800 meters from its Sherborne headquarters, which it bought in 2017. Previously home to the

Sherborne Food Hall, which relocated last year to Blackmarsh Farm – the working dairy farm where the business originally started – it now houses a food production facility and warehouse. Smaller-run, more artisan products, including‘ Something for Supper’ ready meals, Scotch eggs, cakes, and tray bakes, are made at this new site, leaving longer, heavier-volume runs to its existing production facility in Pylle, Somerset.

The move supports Hunt’ s Food Group’ s own brand ambitions, with own-brand sales rising by around five percent in the past 12 months. Quality is proving the point too, with four of its brands winning gold at the Great Taste Awards, including its charcuterie, dairy, and butchery labels. The Black Rock Bakery range has broadened beyond sausage rolls and pasties to include water, cookies, tray bakes, and slices, and a new

Flavour

that earns its place

From burgers to loaded fries and everything in between. No fuss. No filler. Just sauce that does the job, then gets asked for again.

Order today.

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