(GIFTED) Kerry’s Fresh is technically the oldest family run market stall in England. First started in 1885, now in its 5th generation, the company has evolved from a fruit and veg stall in Old Market Square in Nottingham City Centre to a site at Colliers Business Park in Cotgrove, Nottingham.
With a focus on local produce, Kerry’s Fresh really is a champion of local producers and fantastic fruit and veg. Stocking everything from doughnuts from Doughnotts, to coffee from 200 Degrees, DIY pizza kits from The Rustic Crust, salad dressings from The Lincolnshire Drizzle company and chutney’s from Julia’s, you can also create beautiful hampers for any occasion. Nearly 4 years ago Kerry’s Fresh decided to branch out into an online delivery service covering Nottingham and this is when I first ‘met’ them.
Delivery Boxes
A couple of years ago I worked for a business in Nottingham City that had a fruit box delivered each week by Kerry’s Fresh. I was impressed that the company cared about its staff enough to provide this and also the quality of the fruit was always top notch. Bananas, apples, plums and grapes were usually available and the size of the box meant that by Friday there was still fruit available. Thankfully due to the quality it was still very fresh even after being in a hot office for 5 days. I didn’t know at this time that it wasn’t just businesses that could benefit from the delivery service and they actually delivered to households too. This only really became apparent for me at the start of the Coronavirus outbreak. It seems as though this occurred to numerous other people across Nottinghamshire too, with Kerry’s Fresh becoming a safe and reliable place for people to stock up with fruit, veg, meat, bread, wine, coffee and condiments without the hassle of visiting a supermarket.
My Visit
When Kerry’s Fresh invited me to try a box of their fresh fruit and veg to sample more of the range, I jumped at the change. Lockdown for me saw me try to be healthier than usual (except the beer I drank….) and try to start running for the first time in my life. With supermarket shelves empty and the hassle of queuing, this seemed like a great time to try Kerry’s Fresh for myself.
On arrival there was hand sanitiser available and only three people allowed in the shop at once. Guidelines were clearly displayed to inform customers on the correct etiquette and also to use contactless payment where possible to reduce contact.
The layout of the store was super easy to navigate and the aisles were wide enough to allow access to wheelchair users. The store is small but there is so much produce available. I collected my box immediately and took it to the car, and then continued shopping. Along with a box full of fruit and veggies I purchased additional items below.
My ‘Deluxe mixed box’ contained a bit of everything – 14 items of fresh fruit and veg. Strawberries, plums, cauliflower, leeks, tomatoes, cherries, carrots, celery, leeks, green beans, potatoes, lettuce and bananas. The box retails at £21.99 and there was plenty within the box to last Eleanor and I over a week. The fruit and veg was super fresh and well presented – no brown bananas or squashed strawberries like there had been in the supermarkets. The selection was perfect. It enabled us to get a daily fruit intake, healthy veggies for stir fries and potatoes and veggies for a roast dinner. I was actually really impressed with the diversity of the fruit and also the simplicity of the contents. Anyone could order this box and immediately know what to do with the contents, rather than flounder at celeriac or fennel.
Other purchases
As well as my gifted box, I also purchased other produce from Kerry’s. This included doughnuts from Doughnotts (the lotus biscuit one was incredible), bread rolls from Hambleton Bakery and Welbeck Farm Shop (the olive bread rolls had thick, juicy green olives in abundance), brown shimeji mushrooms that were delicious in ramen and a vegan garlic pesto from The Lincolnshire Drizzle Company. Well I have to use the panic bought pasta don’t I! The pesto was delicious on crusty bread with grilled tomato and avocado.
Final Thoughts
With an understanding of customer needs and expectations that can only come from years of trading, Kerry’s Fresh manages to cater to a huge audience. From companies looking to provide fruit to their employees, parents trying to feed their kids healthy food on a budget, to people wanting quality artisan food and drink, Kerry’s manages all this and more. They offer a quick easy subscription service along with their shop so there is no excuse to be without fresh food. I would highly recommend a visit to their unit at Colliers Business Park and have a look for yourself. When you purchase from Kerry’s Fresh, you are also supporting the local community which I love. Keep up to date with Kerry’s Fresh on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK.
* I was gifted my fruit and veg box in exchange for review and purchased all other items myself. I really would recommend Kerry’s Fresh as a convenient place to shop for great local produce.
