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Mockbeggar
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About

A history of the Mockbeggar Group

  • 1950

    Our Formation

    Mockbeggar Farm, near Rochester, Kent was first established in 1950 under the name of W. Brice and Sons Ltd.

  • 1980's

    Rapid Growth

    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.

  • 1990's

    Company Portfolio

    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.

  • 1996

    Mockbeggar Limited

    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.

  • 2000's

    Appointment of Total Worldfresh

    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.

  • 2010's

    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.

  • Present Day

    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.

Our Growers

Trusted growers from around the country make up the Mockbeggar family.

G. Charlton & Sons
Berries Direct Farming Ltd
Fannon Agriculture Ltd
Noke Street Farm
John Myatt and Co.
E. Oldroyd & Sons
Mockbeggar Ltd. Growers
G.J. & H.S. Warren

Produce

Mockbeggar supply a range of premium produce, grown at farms around the county.

Blackberries

15 acres of land producing around 15 tonnes per year

Karaka Black, Incentive

Cherries

65 acres of land producing around 155 tonnes per year

Merchant, Georgia, Kordia, Stella, Summersun, Colney, Penny, Sweetheart, Regina, Staccato

Plums

120 acres of land producing around 235 tonnes per year

Opal, Jubileum, Victoria, Seneca, Marjorie, Haganta, Mirabelle

Raspberries

35 acres of land producing around 175 tonnes per year

Nobility, Majestic, Malling Bella, Paris, Ovation, Tulameen

Rhubarb

215 acres of land producing around 305 tonnes per year

Timperley, Stockbridge Harbinger

Strawberries

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

Apples

570 acres of land producing around 6750 tonnes per year

Gala, Bramley, Discovery, Cox, Braeburn, Red Windsor, Robijn, Ruben, Spartan, Russet, Fulstatt

Pears

95 acres of land producing around 78 tonnes per year

Conference, Comice

Apricots

570 acres of land producing around 6750 tonnes per year

Medoli

Nectarines

4 acres of land producing around 9.5 tonnes per year

Cristal, Diamond Bright, Fire Top

Peaches

1 acre of land producing around 2.8 tonnes per year

Platiprim, Platibelle, Sweet Cap, Onyx, Royal Majestic, Royal Delicious, Patty

Environment

Mockbeggar's commitment to the environment

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.

Contact Us

Mockbeggar Ltd, Mockbeggar Farm, Town Road, Cliffe Woods, Rochester, Kent ME3 8EU
Telephone: + 44 (0) 1634 717425
Fax: +44 (0) 1634 717891

Accounts - jane@mockbeggarltd.co.uk
Sales - alison@mockbeggarltd.co.uk

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