• Gordon Clark, Secretary
Appointed on: 2 December 1999

• Robert Andrew Hinge, Director/Farmer
DOB: December 1963
Appointed on: 11 February 2009

• Paul Mansfield, Director/Fruit Grower
DOB: August 1960
Appointed on: 25 March 2004

• Lancelot Peter Morrish, Director/Farmer
DOB: October 1956
Appointed on: 9 July 2002

• Bastian Oliver Von Streit, CFO
DOB: October 1979
Appointed on: 25 October 2018

• Gareth James Edgecombe, Chief Executive
DOB: October 1971
Appointed on: 22 March 2019

Worldwide Fruit was jointly owned by Northcourt Group and New Zealand’s Enza until 2009, when Northcourt Group (after six years as part of the joint venture) sold its 50% stake to Fruition Producer Organization Ltd.

• Fruition Po Ltd 
Nature of Control: Ownership of shares – More than 25% but not more than 50%
Ownership of voting rights – More than 25% but not more than 50%
Right to appoint and remove directors
Has significant influence or control

• Enzafruit New Zealand International Ltd
Nature of Control: Ownership of shares – More than 25% but not more than 50%
Ownership of voting rights – More than 25% but not more than 50%

They organise their company in the following way: commitment to their customers, commitment to develop and progress sustainable production practices, commitment to support their people with their development and training, commitment to support the community through charities and philanthropic activities and commitment in monitoring managing and reducing the impact on the environment.

• The Worldwide Fruit Ltd Journey

• The company will continue to focus on growth with its core categories of apples, pears and avocados. They are planning on introducing new product categories and new ways of working to align with the evolving market.
• Their new stone fruit business is very exciting and the introduction of service provider customers brings increased efficiency.
• Their future success will be underpinned by their people and processes and they stay committed to a culture of continuous improvement.
• They are an international fruit marketing and distribution company. They source products globally, from over 1000 growers worldwide ensuring continuity of supply 365 days of the year.
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability agenda and the top of their strategy for many years.

Ambitions:

• Grow in new products’ categories
• Embrace new technologies
• Their mission is to become “Customers first choice”

• Its primary customers are major UK food retailers.

Customer Reviews on Google:

1. November 2020 – 5-stars review

“Good service fast download”

2. December 2019 – 5-stars review

“Great place!”

• The quality of their carefully sourced products
• Their values are: Passion – Quality – Innovation – Togetherness
• Their company mission is to be “Customers First Choice”
• Continuous improvement and a lean production system
• They are committed to working responsibly and sustainably in the areas of product availability, quality, food safety, value, service level, brand protection and while providing a product which is both healthy and tasty.

• The company has an active policy of training employees.
• The Colleague Forum, called “Your Voice”, meets quarterly and all departments of the company are represented. It is also used to inform employees on matters affecting them and the financial factors affecting the performance of the company.
• They translate important documents into English, Polish, Portuguese, Latvian, Lithuanian and Hungarian recognising the main nationalities of the employees’ base.
• The average monthly number of persons (including directors) employed by the company during 2019, amounted to 385 (2018: 373).
• Strong moral and ethical obligation to eliminate any gender bias in their pay and remuneration system.
• Their staff us their top agenda as proven by the:
a. Investor In People Silver Award (March 2014)
b. FPC Fresh Awards Best Place to Work (June 2014)
• Employee Statements from the company website

Employee Reviews on Indeed

Receptionist (Former Employee) – Spalding, Lincolnshire – 20 February 2020
It was amazing place to work and they support you though everything I would pass on my experience in my future and I’ll always keep in contact with them and recommend them to everyone

Employee Reviews on Glassdoor

1. 17 July 2019
“Great company”
Former Employee – Development Coordinator in Spalding, England
Worked at Worldwide Fruit full-time for more than a year

Pros
Looks out for well being of staff and has a real positive atmosphere

2. 1 November 2020
“Average”
Current Employee – Production Planner in Spalding, England
Have been working at Worldwide Fruit full-time for more than 10 years

Pros
Not so bad pay. Some other benefits

Cons
Bad management, poor communication from management.

• They source products globally, from over 1000 growers worldwide ensuring continuity of supply 365 days of the year.
• They are an award-winning business supplying top Quality fruit to the UK’s leading supermarkets.
• They specialise in: apples, pears and avocados.
• Product is sourced from top quality suppliers in the UK, New Zealand, South America, South Africa, USA and Europe.
• Their Packhouse at Spalding handles 4.4 million cases per annum which equates to 52.8 million packs.

Worldwide Fruit Business Activities Video

• Annual Report
• The principal activity of the company is sourcing, packing and distribution of fruit.
• Overall trading has been strong, although margins have been impacted by the weakening pound against euro and dollar.
• They have offices in Spalding, Lincolnshire and Whitstable, Kent.
• They employ in the region of 250 staff and their turnover is £114 million per annum.
• Sites:

• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Twitter

Awards

• Business of the Year at 2019 South Holland Business Awards.

• In 2014 Worldwide Fruit, Spalding, has been accredited by Marks and Spencer with their PLANA Silver Award which refers to the M&S ‘Foods Sustainable Factory Programme’ framework. They are the first M&S Fruit category supplier to achieve this status.

Competitors List (alphabetical order)
Criterion: Industry subcategory, Company Size and Product

Fesa
Number of employees: 103

George Perry Ltd
(England’s ‘oldest’ fruits and vegetables wholesaler)

Greencell
Number of employees: 508

Reynolds Catering Supplies Limited
Number of employees: 935

Watson & Pratt’s