A family business for over 80 years

During the depression of the 1930s the founder of the company, Ronald S. Cockerill, began farming a rented plot of land to grow carrots, later expanding with the acquisition of a farm tenancy near York. Potato and carrot trading operations developed alongside farming activities, and became the mainstay of the business following our role in the Dig for Britain war campaign, distributing farm produce to those in greatest need.

Martin Cockerill, the present Chairman and son of the founder, joined the company in 1967 and over the following years developed an aerial crop spraying service and a prepack business serving retail multiples and large wholesalers. The company started supplying potatoes on contract to Tudor Crisps, later becoming Smiths Crisps and then Walkers who are still a major customer. We have enjoyed substantial growth over the past five years and now operate a modern packhouse with storage and grading facilities at Dunnington, where we have offices and a quality analysis laboratory.

Our site at Barmby Moor has also been developed for the storage of crisping potatoes, with high capacity washing and loading facilities.