Couple deliver a fresh idea

Aug 1 2006
By Evening Gazette, Teeside

A Stockton-based organic food delivery service is booming thanks to growing demand for locally-sourced produce.

Boxfresh Organics, which is run by husband and wife team Andy and Jennie Johnston, offers customers fresh organic fruit and vegetables sourced, wherever possible, from producers in the North-east and Yorkshire.

The service was started in 2004 after Andy was inspired to copy a friend's successful organic produce delivery service in Shropshire.

"Our friend had built up quite a business after five years and wondered whether a similar scheme would work on Teesside," said Jennie Johnston.

"So we decided to give it a try. After securing a local supplier we set about marketing, and within a couple of weeks had 13 customers. We now have about 80."

All produce is sourced through the Organic Pantry in Thirsk, with seasonal variations such as turkey and other organic meats also on the menu.

"We try to meet customer requirements, so if someone specifically asks for something we'll try to get it for them," adds Jennie.

The business currently offers an extra income into the Johnston household, but Jennie, a registered child minder, is keen to further develop the business.

"People definitely like to know that what they are buying is good food and local," she said.

According to research by Mintel, sales of organic food has doubled in the last five years and will reach £2bn by 2010.

There are 4,000 organic farms in the UK - 4pc of total farmland, and the UK is the third biggest producer of organic produce next to Italy and Germany.