Kent’s largest apple and pear grower, A. C. Goatham & Son, has won the “Taste of the South East” competition, organised by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), to win a much coveted place on a three day Grown in Britain Market Insight visit to Milan, Italy, which takes place 5, 6 & 7 May. The visit coincides with this year’s World Expo in Milan and both events will provide an opportunity for the business to meet with buyers, potential partners and business prospects from around the world.
Carol Ford, Commercial Director at A C Goatham & Son comments: “This is a fantastic achievement for A C Goatham & Son and will put our English apples and pears in front of potential customers from around the world. We would like to see Kentish apples and pears on supermarket shelves around the world, as well as shaping the market here in the UK towards greater self-sufficiency. We already know that around the world there is a lot of interest in British produce, because it is grown to such a high standard and has an excellent provenance.”
The prize won by A C Goatham & Son includes the opportunity to attend both the Tutto Food Exhibition and Expo Milano UK, plus networking events and the opportunity to meet one-to-one with overseas industry leaders. Expo Milano is a hub for international business, with over 140 participating countries and 20 million visitors expected.
Carol Ford concludes: “This is a terrific opportunity for A C Goatham & Son. We had to pitch against a considerable number of other businesses in the South East, so to be one of the 13 winning companies selected is incredible. We are already using the latest cold storage technology in our business to help push the boundaries which restrict the number of months our produce can be available to the British public. It makes sense to look at markets on the other side of the world to see if we can fulfill any shortfall they have at the end of their growing season when our produce is in plentiful supply.”
