The industry and local community has been paying tribute to Bernard and Joan O’Malley, the founders of the company that is now Nationwide Produce PLC, after they died within a few days of each other.
In a statement, their son and Group Managing Director Tim O’Malley, said, “After a short time in hospital, my mum, Joan O’Malley, died on Friday 11th October. My dad, Bernard, followed her shortly afterwards and passed away on Wednesday 30th October.
“Neither death was unexpected although it was tough for us all hearing about my dad on the day of my mum’s funeral. They were both 88 years old and had been married 65 years. In all that time they’d hardly spent a night apart. They’re back together now.
“Nationwide Produce PLC began life in September 1975 as Bernard O’Malley & Co. The ‘Co’ was my mum. My dad did all the trading, my mum did the books. The office was a small room in a small three bedroom house in Southport with four young kids running around – three of them now in the business. Myself, Patrick and Anthony.
“We still have the first set of accounts. The business turned over £311,122 in its first year and made a small profit. This last financial year, Nationwide turned over £186m from 9 offices/depots/packhouses in 4 countries employing 300 staff.
“My dad never stopped talking about the business. First thing he would say whenever I saw him was ‘how’s the job?’. He loved the fruit and veg trade and was enormously proud of the business he created alongside my mum. I’ll miss him, I’ll miss his boundless enthusiasm for the business but above all, I’ll miss his advice, his pearls of wisdom.”
