Mockbeggar Farm, near Rochester, Kent was first established in 1950 under the name of W. Brice and Sons Ltd.
By the 1980’s, under the management of directors, and brothers, Simon and Peter Brice, Mockbeggar Farm became one of the first large independent soft and stone fruit growers to start trading with supermarkets.
By the mid 1990’s in an ever expanding marketplace the company’s portfolio of major supermarkets included Marks and Spencer, Tesco, J Sainsbury and Safeway. Other growers, from Kent to Scotland were attracted to come under the Mockbeggar umbrella in order to market their fruit.
By 1996 marketing arrangements for the growers to form a producer group were formalised. As Mockbeggar Farm near Rochester, Kent was the hub of the enterprise (with the main pack house located on site) this group was formally named as Mockbeggar Limited. In December 1996 there were 6 original members, with new members recruited in order to grow and strengthen the position within the marketplace and offer produce over an extended season.
Between 2000 and 2008 12 additional growers joined Mockbeggar Ltd. In 2002 it was decided to supplement their marketing arm by appointing Total Worldfresh (formally known as AFI) as their agent.
In 1997 turnover for the group was £3,071,060, with additional acreage and improved farming methods this increased to £19,000,000 by 2014. All our members prepare their produce from their own pack houses on site with exception of J. Myatt and D. Philp who use Mockbeggar Packing Ltd for their produce. All Members have the necessary and relevant accreditations for the supermarkets they supply, including BRC, Red Tractor / Assured Produce, Tesco Nurture, Sedex, and Field to Fork.
We added top fruit to our product range in 2022. The group have made significant strides in marketing across a wider range of supermarkets and convenience stores. We have had two members leave the group due to a change in direction and have welcomed a new member, Fannon Agriculture who produce Apples and Pears. We have invested in new plant varieties, better irrigation equipment and cold storage facilities which have improved our crop quality and yields, water efficiency and extended the shelf life of our products. We have also invested in solar panels and LED lighting.
15 acres of land producing around 15 tonnes per year
Karaka Black, Incentive
65 acres of land producing around 155 tonnes per year
Merchant, Georgia, Kordia, Stella, Summersun, Colney, Penny, Sweetheart, Regina, Staccato
120 acres of land producing around 235 tonnes per year
Opal, Jubileum, Victoria, Seneca, Marjorie, Haganta, Mirabelle
35 acres of land producing around 175 tonnes per year
Nobility, Majestic, Malling Bella, Paris, Ovation, Tulameen
215 acres of land producing around 305 tonnes per year
Timperley, Stockbridge Harbinger
350 acres of land producing around 7150 tonnes per year
Malling Centenary, Favori, Murano, Aurora Karima, Sweet Eve, Majestic, Eve’s Joy, Ania, Elsanta, Sonata
570 acres of land producing around 6750 tonnes per year
Gala, Bramley, Discovery, Cox, Braeburn, Red Windsor, Robijn, Ruben, Spartan, Russet, Fulstatt
95 acres of land producing around 78 tonnes per year
Conference, Comice
570 acres of land producing around 6750 tonnes per year
Medoli
4 acres of land producing around 9.5 tonnes per year
Cristal, Diamond Bright, Fire Top
1 acre of land producing around 2.8 tonnes per year
Platiprim, Platibelle, Sweet Cap, Onyx, Royal Majestic, Royal Delicious, Patty
As a group, we are constantly looking at ways to improve our environmental impact and carbon footprint.
Some of our achievements to date include:
• Investing in better irrigation equipment which has improved water efficiency.
• By using biological crop control, we have reduced the use of pesticides.
• Investing in heat sealers in the packhouse, we have saved considerable amounts of plastic usage.
• Investing in non-plastic packaging options for delivery of produce to customers.
• Investments in renewable energy including solar panels and Biomass.