Lincolnshire Herbs

What Lincolnshire Herbs does

Lincolnshire Herbs (legal entity Lincolnshire Herbs Limited, registered in England, company number 03396683) is a UK fresh-produce business headquartered at Spalding Road, Bourne, Lincolnshire, that grows and supplies fresh-cut herbs and living pot herbs to retail, foodservice, wholesale, and food-manufacturing customers. It is one of the largest growers of fresh-cut and living pot herbs in the UK and operates as a key UK unit within SPISA Group, a privately owned European parent company that produces roughly 50 million pot herbs and 40 million fresh-packed units per year across 8 growing sites in the UK, Sweden and Poland. Lincolnshire Herbs itself cultivates 14 fresh-cut herb varieties (basil, chives, coriander, flat and curly parsley, dill, lime leaves, mint, oregano, rosemary, sage, tarragon, thyme, Thai basil) plus living pot herbs in a glasshouse operation, and sells branded single-use soil-plug herbs under the Handy Herbs sub-brand exclusively in 100 Morrisons stores.

The growing platform is technologically differentiated and capital-intensive: a £1.4 million geothermal ground-source heat pump — the only commercial glasshouse in the UK using this approach — delivers a 58% carbon and 50% heating cost reduction; a £1.7 million LED retrofit across 2,767 lights in 7 glasshouse sections cuts energy consumption by more than 25%; a PRIVA climate-control system manages environmental conditions; robotic automation handles sowing and pot packing; and 100% of glasshouse irrigation is met from harvested rainwater. The site holds Red Tractor, LEAF Marque (since November 2023), Global G.A.P. Chain of Custody, BRCGS and SMETA certifications, and a published Modern Slavery Statement.

The business model is dual-channel B2B and B2C. Revenue is generated through wholesale supply to four major UK grocery multiples (Asda, Morrisons, Aldi and Lidl), foodservice operators, wholesale markets and food manufacturers under quote-based pricing; a second revenue stream comes from the Handy Herbs consumer brand sold exclusively in Morrisons stores. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales into retailers plus brand-led consumer activation at retail. The company employs 101–250 people and is led by Managing Director Stephen Corby (appointed January 2025), with commercial, technical, operations, purchasing, finance, HR and business-analysis functions in place. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Lincolnshire Herbs

Legal name

Lincolnshire Herbs Limited

Website

https://lincolnshire-herbs.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Lincolnshire Herbs is one of the UK's largest growers of fresh-cut and living pot herbs, supplying Asda, Morrisons, Aldi, Lidl, foodservice operators, wholesale markets and food manufacturers, and sells the Handy Herbs single-use consumer brand exclusively in Morrisons.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fresh Herbs

NAICS

Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Production (1114)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYAFAGAGAD

Culinary Herb Farming (Basil, Oregano, Thyme, Mint, Parsley)

Agriculture & Food Production/Crop Farming/Specialty & Industrial Crop Farming (Tobacco, Hops, Spices, Medicinal/Aromatic Plants)

Keywords

• Fresh cut herbs
• Living pot herbs
• Glasshouse herb growing
• Fresh herb supply
• Culinary herb production

Headquarters

HQ city

Bourne

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Fresh Cut Herbs: Supply of fresh cut herbs to retail, food service, wholesale markets and manufacturing customers. Products include basil, chives, coriander, curly parsley, dill, flat parsley, lime leaves, mint, oregano, rosemary, sage, tarragon, thyme, and Thai basil.
2. Living Pot Herbs: Growing and supply of living pot herbs for retail and foodservice markets, supporting convenience, extended shelf life and reduced food waste.
3. Handy Herbs Consumer Brand: Single-use herbs in handy soil plugs sold under Handy Herbs brand exclusively at Morrisons. Products include basil, coriander, mint, and curly parsley in consumer-ready packaging.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Lincolnshire Herbs is one of the largest UK growers of fresh cut and living potted herbs, operating glasshouses in Bourne, Lincolnshire. The company supplies fresh cut herbs (basil, chives, coriander, parsley, mint, rosemary, thyme and others), living pot herbs, and its Handy Herbs consumer sub-brand (single-use soil-plug herbs sold at Morrisons) to UK retail multiples, foodservice operators, wholesale markets, and food manufacturers.

Product overview

Lincolnshire Herbs is a leading grower and supplier of premium fresh-cut and living pot herbs, operating as a unified product portfolio. The core offerings comprise Fresh Cut Herbs (14 varieties including basil, chives, coriander, mint, rosemary, thyme, and specialty herbs) and Living Pot Herbs (potted herbs for extended shelf life and reduced waste). The company has recently launched Handy Herbs, a UK-exclusive sub-brand of single-use herbs grown in soil plugs, available only at Morrisons. Handy Herbs includes basil, coriander, mint, and curly parsley varieties. All products are supplied to retail, food service, wholesale markets, and manufacturing customers across the UK and Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Handy Herbs: Revolutionary single-use fresh herbs in handy soil plugs, designed for one-time use with no planting required. British-grown in Lincolnshire, exclusively available at Morrisons in the UK. Includes basil, coriander, mint, and curly parsley varieties.

Products and services

• Fresh Cut Herbs A wide selection of fresh-cut culinary herbs including basil, chives, coriander, curly parsley, dill, flat parsley, lime leaves, mint, oregano, rosemary, sage, tarragon, thyme, and Thai basil. Grown under glass at the Lincolnshire facility and sourced from trusted partners worldwide for year-round supply. Sold to retail, foodservice, wholesale, and manufacturing customers.
• Living Pot Herbs Living potted herbs that are grown in state-of-the-art glasshouses and packed with precision to preserve peak freshness. The living format supports convenience, extended shelf life, and reduced food waste. Supplied to retail and foodservice customers.
• Handy Herbs Single-use fresh herbs grown in handy soil plugs under the Handy Herbs sub-brand. British-grown in Lincolnshire and designed for one-time use with no planting required, no waste, and no wilting. Varieties include basil, coriander, mint, and curly parsley. Sold exclusively at 100 of Morrisons' largest UK stores targeting consumers seeking convenient fresh herb solutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 58% carbon reduction in glasshouse heating
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SPISA GroupcoreOthersLincolnshire Herbs is part of SPISA Group, a privately-owned European company established in 1997 and key unit within the Gavia group of companies. SPISA Group is a leading company in cultivation and marketing of organic and conventional fresh herbs to international retail and food service markets, producing 50M pot herbs and 40M fresh packed herbs annually across 8 European sites. Provides shared technical knowledge, global sourcing capability, and capital availability.
• Shenandoah GrowerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong partnership and holding in US herb grower Shenandoah Growers. Partnership enables shared IP and innovations mutually between the companies, expanding capabilities in herb cultivation technology and market reach.
• MorrisonscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-term valued partner and exclusive retail distribution channel for Handy Herbs consumer brand. Handy Herbs launched exclusively at Morrisons in 100 of their largest stores across UK. Morrisons invited Lincolnshire Herbs to showcase Handy Herbs at Farm Fest 2026.
• Gavia FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnected through SPISA Group membership. The Gavia Foundation funds social impact initiatives in herb-growing communities worldwide through education, wellbeing, and sustainable development. Lincolnshire Herbs aligns with and benefits from the wider Group's commitment to responsible supply chain supporting people locally and globally.
• Natural EnglandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipation in soil and ecosystem biodiversity surveys, contributing data to UK Government's long-term environmental commitment plans. Supports company's environmental monitoring and sustainability reporting.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• G's Fresh: Major UK fresh produce group supplying salads, vegetables and herbs to leading UK grocers. Comparable in B2B retail supply of fresh produce from UK operations, including glasshouse-grown categories.
• Dole plc: Global fresh produce company (incorporating legacy Total Produce operations) with significant UK and European fresh herb and salad exposure. Comparable on customer base, scale and category breadth as a broad incumbent in retail fresh produce.
• Bonduelle: French-headquartered global leader in processed and fresh vegetables, with growing fresh herb and salad exposure across Europe. Comparable as a broad incumbent in European fresh and processed produce serving retail and foodservice channels.
• Greenyard: Belgian-listed global fresh produce group operating across vegetables, fruit and herbs. Comparable as a large European incumbent with overlapping retail customer base, integrated cold-chain and category breadth extending into fresh herbs.
• Greenvale: UK fresh produce company focused on potatoes and root crops, with broader fresh produce exposure and major UK grocery supply relationships. Comparable on UK retail supply model and fresh produce operations rather than specific herb category.
• Bakkavor: UK-listed fresh prepared foods group with significant exposure to herbs, salads and prepared produce for the same major UK supermarket customers Lincolnshire serves. Overlapping retail relationships and shared fresh-produce supply economics make it a broad incumbent comparable.

Regional players

• Berry Gardens: UK grower-owned fresh produce group supplying berries and other fresh produce to UK retailers. Comparable as a UK-focused grower cooperative serving the same major grocery customers, though focused on berries rather than herbs.

Direct peers

• Vitacress: One of Europe's largest growers of fresh herbs, salads and specialty greens, supplying UK and European retailers. Directly comparable to Lincolnshire Herbs on category (culinary herbs), customer base (major grocers) and production model (glasshouse + outdoor).
• Fresca Group: UK-based fresh produce supplier and procurement group supplying fresh herbs, salads and vegetables to UK retailers and foodservice. Direct competitor in fresh herb sourcing and supply, with overlapping customer base and category focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lincolnshire Herbs