Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

SPAR wholesaler expands fresh range with Yorkshire herbs  

SPAR wholesaler expands fresh range with Yorkshire herbs  
Wilf Whittle, Fresh Trading Manager at James Hall & Co. Ltd, alongside Philip Dodd, Managing Director of Herbs Unlimited, with the new range of herbs for SPAR North of England stores

James Hall & Co. Ltd has added tasty new herbs to SPAR North of England’s fresh range, sowing a new deal with North Yorkshire business Herbs Unlimited.

The deal will see Herbs Unlimited initially supplying six popular herbs in basil, chives, coriander, curly parsley, mint, and rosemary.


Available in a large 50g bag, the supply of herbs follows on from Herbs Unlimited introducing Yorkshire-grown curly kale to SPAR North of England stores through James Hall & Co. Ltd in December 2023.

Herbs Unlimited was formed in 1993 when Alison Dodd, mother of current managing director Philip Dodd, changed career after spotting a gap in the market.

She began growing herbs to sell directly to the hospitality sector when she found no consistency in the regular supply of fresh herbs to the restaurant where she was head chef.

The business has blossomed in the three decades since and it is the only remaining commercial grower of fresh herbs in Northern England.

Yorkshire-grown herbs are supplied between March and October and high-quality substitutes are imported during the winter months.

From its base at Sandhutton near Thirsk, Herbs Unlimited grows a core range of 17 herbs, 28 speciality herbs, 16 varieties of edible flowers, and a range of salad and leaf vegetables including chard, kale, and spinach.

It has become a go-to supplier for some of the country’s top chefs and high-end restaurants, and Wilf Whittle, fresh trading manager at James Hall & Co. Ltd, is thrilled to support the business as it takes its first steps into supplying retail directly.

Whittle said: “We are very pleased to establish a partnership with the award-winning Herbs Unlimited. Like us, they are a family business, and this is a positive step forward in enabling us to add a range of high-quality fresh herbs to our strong fresh portfolio.

“The Yorkshire-grown curly kale supplied by Herbs Unlimited has proven very popular in SPAR stores this winter, and has complemented our offering of broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower as a nutritious addition to the dinner table.

“Recent seasons have showed us that products like kale, cavolo nero, and spinach have seen growth in our stores. They are convenient ingredients that can be added to a number of meals, providing great taste and health benefits.

“We want to naturally develop this range going forward and inspire more people to think about cooking fresh food when they enter our SPAR stores Northern England. When customers think of fresh, tasty herbs and vegetables, we want them to think of SPAR.”

Dodd said: “We are very excited to launch our herbs into SPAR North of England stores. We felt the time was right for the business to move in the direction of retail supply for the first time and we are confident we have the right partner in James Hall & Co. Ltd.

“For SPAR customers, this a unique opportunity to purchase the same fresh herbs in their local stores that end up on the plates of Michelin star restaurants. Our products deliver exceptional value and are packaged in vibrant branding that stands out in-store.

“Herbs really can bring food to life during cooking, whether it is adding them to a quick midweek Bolognese sauce or impressing friends and family when hosting at the weekend.

“We have wonderful free draining sandy soils at our farm and herbs thrive in the conditions. All of this contributes to the quality and flavour of what we produce, and we are sure SPAR North of England customers will soon agree.”

James Hall & Co. Ltd is a fifth-generation family business which serves a network of independent SPAR retailers and company-owned SPAR stores across Northern England six days a week from its base at Bowland View in Preston.

More for you

Edmonton city council debates bylaw to ban sale of knives in convenience stores

iStock image

Edmonton city council debates bylaw to ban sale of knives in convenience stores

Edmonton city council is discussing what it would take to ban knives from being sold in convenience stores, state recent reports.

A key issue during the community and public services committee held on Monday (20) was wading through the potential legal ramifications of defining what a knife is and whether some businesses owners may try to find loopholes to be able to sell knives.

Keep ReadingShow less
Things to know about new Simpler Recycling reforms

iStock image

Things to know about new Simpler Recycling reforms

With just 70 days left to go until the government’s new Simpler Recycling reforms are implemented, most businesses are not prepared for the changes in the rule, claims a leading business waste management service.

Although the UK's overall recycling rate has seen a significant rise, reaching 44 per cent in 2015 compared to just 17 per cent in 2008, progress has plateaued in recent years, with indications that the rate may now be declining.

Keep ReadingShow less
Lioncroft Wholesale founder made Aston University’s new Chancellor

Lioncroft Wholesale founder made Aston University’s new Chancellor

Birmingham entrepreneur and leading wholesale figure Dr Jason Wouhra OBE has been officially installed as Aston University’s new Chancellor.

Dr Wouhra, Aston University’s youngest Chancellor and the first of Asian heritage, was presented with the chancellor’s chain at the beginning of the University’s first winter graduation which was held at Symphony Hall in Birmingham city centre. Spread across three ceremonies, approximately 4,500 graduates and guests attended the event.

Keep ReadingShow less
New buying group shares future vision

New buying group shares future vision

In addition to announcing six brand new members within the first week of January, the new buying group The Wholesale Group last week hosted two briefing events for senior suppliers where it shared details of its plans and future vision.

The senior supplier briefing event, held at Soho Hotel, London last week, saw more than 50 channel directors in attendance plus 150 representatives from leading FMCG suppliers, across all product categories.

Keep ReadingShow less
vape pen
Photo: iStock

Safer alternatives to cigarettes could save millions of lives and billions of pounds, says think tank

Promoting safer alternatives to cigarettes could save 19 million years of life by 2030 and reduce smoking-related costs to taxpayers by up to £12.6 billion annually, a new report from the Adam Smith Institute (ASI) has revealed.

The think tank argues that the UK government's current approach to achieving a Smoke Free 2030 - defined as reducing smoking rates to 5 per cent or lower - is both illiberal and unworkable and will significantly set back progress against smoking related harm. The ASI warns that policies such as a generational tobacco ban, a new tax on vapes, and restrictions on heated tobacco products and flavours will hinder harm reduction efforts.

Keep ReadingShow less