£50m veg box company announces plans for employee ownership by 2018

Riverford Organic Farmers, which has hit the the ten-year mark of farming in Yorkshire, is set to become employee-owned by 2018.

Riverford’s northern farm, Home Farm at Newby Wiske, near Northallerton, employs 32 staff and 11 franchisees in the region.

Home Farm is one of four Riverford farms countrywide, which together produce and deliver the its veg boxes to more than 47,000 homes each week.

The company reported a group turnover of £51.9m last year.

Peter Richardson’s family has farmed at Home Farm/Newby Wiske for three generations, converting the farm to organic in 1996 and setting up the veg box scheme with Riverford in 2007.

The farm is supported by other organic farmers to offer a wide range and variety of produce to Riverford’s customers throughout Yorkshire and the North.

Founded by farmer Guy Watson in Devon in 1987, Riverford Organic Farmers now boasts a nationwide network of farmers and veg teams.

Guy said: “We choose the varieties we grow for flavour rather than yield or cosmetic perfection and think our veg is so good it deserves to be shouted about.

“Despite our impressive growth over the last 30 years, we’re not here for profit; I have had dozens of offers to buy out the business, but will never do so and instead it will become employee owned by 2018.

“I started the business to produce something useful to the world, so to protect our model of sustainable large-scale food production, the staff will soon own the majority instead.

“It’s an exciting time and a big change. Employee ownership will not guarantee enlightened management, devolved decision making and more innovation but we are hoping, with thought, coaching, nudging and the normal navel gazing, it will be the catalyst for an accelerated transition in that direction.”

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