Wholesale business enjoys the fruits of its labour

THE owner of a fruit and vegetable wholesale company has seen his business flourish with the help of a business support scheme.

Last July, Richard Musgrave moved to new premises in Keighley with his business Strawberry Fields and received help and a £10,000 capital grant from Rising Stars, an initiative jointly delivered by Bradford Council and the Bradford Chamber of Commerce.

Mr Musgrave used the cash to pay for a fleet of new vehicles and upgrade the cold room facilities at Strawberry Fields, which is now thriving after the move following his 20 years as a greengrocer in Saltaire at The Orange Grove.

“We supply restaurants, hotels, cafes and any retail food outlet and we’re very close to adding our own prepared vegetable unit for things like coleslaw, diced carrots and potatoes, which we will then be distributing,” said Mr Musgrave.

“I knew it was going to be a difficult year working with the banks so I spoke to Rising Stars adviser Carolyn Townsley.

“She’s been fantastic and helped us get the grant. It now means all our vans are refrigerated and we’re geared up for getting new business.”

Mr Musgrave, who employs 14 staff, said Strawberry Fields will progress in 2013 through working with local farmers directly and is currently rebranding its website for customers to be able to buy online.

Rising Stars is continuing to offer advice on business direction and growth to Strawberry Fields through regular meetings and phone calls.

Rising Stars business services manager Carolyn Coleman said: “Although a well-established company, Rising Stars was able to help Richard Musgrave and Strawberry Fields make great strides and move up successfully to the next level of business with the assistance we have been able to provide.”