Tamar View Fruiterers is an independent family-owned business supplying fruit and vegetables to many businesses in the southwest of England. Francis Barrett started the Company in 1989 and was joined subsequently by his three sons, David, Nigel and Ian.
Today, there are two sides to the business – wholesale and retail. David and Ian control the wholesale side of the business. David says, “Our new fruit and vegetable warehouse, situated in Saltash, forms the hub of our business. We pride ourselves on sourcing as much local produce as is possible with our broccoli from Penzance, potatoes and cauliflowers from Kingsbridge, parsnips from Exeter and strawberries and raspberries from the Tamar Valley.”
As a supplier of fresh fruit and vegetables, the Company understands that each and every customer has a need for a reliable wholesale service, a high and consistent quality of product, prompt deliveries all of which need to be fully supported by a committed and helpful staff. Tamar View has its own fleet of modern vehicles and these provide a regular delivery service from its purpose-built warehouse opened just four years ago, to catering establishments and retail outlets throughout West Devon, South Hams, Plymouth, and North and East Cornwall. David adds that “We pride ourselves on our endeavours to fulfil these needs – to us it is not a job, it is a passion!”
On the retail side, the Company has a family-run retail outlet situated in the Saltash Garden Centre that is open seven days a week and which is always stocked with a large selection of fresh fruit and vegetables. The produce is supplied by the wholesale warehouse to ensure freshness and quality. The retail outlet also offers a wide variety of local farm and dairy products to supplement the fruit and vegetables.
Nigel stresses, “So much fresh produce is grown in the immediate area that we feel we are under an obligation to promote our local suppliers and growers. In return this ensures that our offerings are always as fresh as possible – indeed we often say that if the fruit or vegetable were any fresher, it would still be in the ground or on the tree! Having said that, we do not use local suppliers simply because they are there. Each and every one has to prove to us that they can supply the quality and quantity that we require on a reliable ongoing basis. We do try, however, wherever possible to support our local economy through the purchase of local fruit and vegetables and in this way we can guarantee to our customers that what they are buying is always as fresh as possible.”
For retail customers that have difficulty getting to the shop, Tamar View does offer a home delivery service of fruit and vegetables direct to the door. This service is available on all the Company’s retail produce.
Investment and Diversification
Three years ago, Tamar View took a major step to improving its inhouse skill levels by taking on as Buyer Manager, Steve Larcombe, a man with more than 30 years experience in the fruit and vegetable trade.
An inordinate level of enquiry from the shipping trade has led the Company to diversify and to set up a new Company, Tamar Maritime Logistics to meet this demand. Today, not only does it supply commercial shipping lines with fresh fruit and vegetables but it has now become a full ships chandler, supplying an increasingly wide range of products to the foreign Navies at Devonport Dockyard and commercial shipping coming into Plymouth docks. We can supply everything from can openers to gas supplies and from pesticides to Submarine components.
David adds, “Present suppliers and customers and our own work force alike, know us for our sincere ‘Ethical and Environmental Policies’. We are customer driven and led. Food safety, quality and hygiene are always a priority within our company and the foundation stone of our business. We make every effort to source the finest produce from British growers – both locally and nationally. We also endeavour to minimise packaging and to recycle wherever possible. We strive to become involved with and support the local community and to promote healthy eating and educate people on the benefits of fresh produce. Over the years, we have re-invested within the community, therefore supporting a variety of diverse local businesses and creating jobs for local people. We stringently adhere to accountability with full product traceability. Finally, we employ some 40 local staff whose hard work has contributed greatly to the success and growth of the business, supplying everyone from fine dining establishments to the public sector.
For further information please telephone 01752 848738 or visit www.tamarviewfruiterers.co.uk
