What ACH Farming does

ACH Farming (legal name AC Hulme & Sons) is a family-owned mixed farming business operating across 4,000 acres in East Kent, England, between Canterbury, Folkestone and Sandwich. Founded in 1946 by Arthur Cecil Hulme, the company is now in its third generation of family ownership under Managing Director Tom Hulme and is structured around five operational sub-brands: ACH Fruit (500 acres of high-intensity tree and stone fruit orchards producing apples, pears, cherries, apricots and plums), ACH Cattle (~400 suckler cows bred for Waitrose on the Aberdeen Angus traditional breeds scheme at Merton Farm), ACH Arable (cereals and crops at Brook Farm), ACH Asparagus (launched 2022), and ACH Grapes (viticulture launched 2024 as ACH Grapes Limited, with 70+ acres of vineyards in Chartham for Wine GB production).

The business operates as a vertically integrated grower-packer-marketer-distributor, controlling the full chain from orchard/field through to on-farm Dynamic Controlled Atmosphere cold storage (8,500 tonnes / 25,000 bins capacity at Hoaden Court), a purpose-built BRCGS 'AA' accredited packhouse (built 2020), and direct distribution to UK supermarket distribution centres via four loading docks. Supporting infrastructure includes a 1MW roof-mounted solar PV array, semi-automated Revo harvest rigs, precision irrigation monitoring (soil moisture probes, sap flow monitors, dendrometers), and the Hoaden Court Workers Village — a joint venture with labour provider Pro-Force providing 54 mobile homes and ~300 bed spaces for seasonal staff.

ACH Farming's commercial model is a B2B direct-to-supermarket supplier relationship. It is an approved supplier to all major UK supermarket chains and a member of the Red Tractor, LEAF Marque, BRCGS 'AA', SMETA, Global GAP, FABBL, and Assured Combinable Crops assurance schemes. Revenue is generated across multiple product lines — fruit, beef, arable, asparagus, grapes, straw/hay — supplemented by third-party grower packing and marketing on a transaction fee basis, which together enable a 52-week supply capability. Pricing is contractually negotiated with supermarket buyers and is not publicly disclosed. The customer base is concentrated in UK grocery retail, with Waitrose named explicitly for cattle progeny.

Name

ACH Farming

Legal name

AC Hulme & Sons

Website

https://achfarming.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ACH Farming is a third-generation, family-owned mixed farm in East Kent operating 4,000 acres of tree fruit, stone fruit, beef cattle, arable crops, asparagus and viticulture. It supplies all major UK supermarkets directly through a vertically integrated grower-packer-distributor model with on-site cold storage and a BRCGS-AA packhouse.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mixed Agriculture and Fresh Produce Farming

NAICS

Fruit and Tree Nut Farming (1113), Oilseed and Grain Farming (1111), Farm Product Warehousing and Storage (493130)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Fresh Produce Packhouses (Fruits & Vegetables) (AFAOAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Apple/Pear Packing & Controlled-Atmosphere Prep (AFAOAGAC), Produce (Fruits & Vegetables) Cold Storage & Ripening (TLALABAE)

Keywords

• Tree fruit production
• Stone fruit farming
• Mixed farming operations
• Arable crop production
• Beef cattle farming

Headquarters

HQ city

Kent

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fruit production and sales: Growing, packing, marketing and distribution of tree fruit (apples, pears, cherries, apricots, plums) and stone fruit to UK supermarkets
2. Cattle and beef production: Approximately 400 suckler cows bred, fed and finished; all progeny supplied to Waitrose on the Aberdeen Angus traditional breeds scheme
3. Arable cropping: Wheat, barley, oil seed rape, beans, oats, maize and grass seed crops grown in rotation with custom-built grain storage facilities
4. Third-party grower packing and marketing: Works with other growers to pack and market their product, enabling year-round supply up to 52 weeks per year
5. Asparagus production: Started growing asparagus in 2022 with innovation, new varietal options and tunnelled crop for early production
6. Viticulture (ACH Grapes): Started viticulture business in 2024 (ACH Grapes Limited) growing grapes for Wine GB production across over 70 acres of vineyards in the Chartham area
7. Straw and hay sales: Diversified into 10,000 bales of straw and hay for own use and sale across the year

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ACH Farming operates as a vertically integrated grower-packer-marketer-distributor producing British tree and stone fruit (apples, pears, cherries, plums, apricots across 500 acres of high-intensity orchards), beef cattle (around 400 Aberdeen Angus suckler cows for Waitrose), arable crops (wheat, barley, oilseed rape, beans, oats, maize, grass seed), asparagus and grapes for Wine GB. Produce is packed on-site at a BRCGS 'AA' accredited packhouse, stored in 8,500 tonnes of Dynamic Controlled Atmosphere cold storage, and supplied direct to all major UK supermarkets on contracts that support up to 52 weeks of annual supply.

Product overview

ACH Farming is a mixed farming business operating as a unified platform-plus-services model, combining multiple agricultural product lines with integrated support operations. The core products include ACH Fruit (tree and stone fruit across 500 acres), ACH Cattle (400 suckler cows), ACH Arable (cereals and crops), ACH Asparagus (launched 2022), and ACH Grapes (viticulture launched 2024). These primary products are supported by integrated services including Cold Storage (8,500 tonnes DCA capacity), Grading and Packing (BRCGS AA certified facility), and Supply Chain operations that enable 52-week supply to customers. The Hoaden Court Workers Village provides seasonal labor accommodation, completing the vertical integration from growing through to distribution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ACH Fruit: Tree and stone fruit growing operation, producing apples, pears, cherries, plums and apricots across 500 acres of modern high intensity orchards
• ACH Cattle
• ACH Arable
• ACH Asparagus
• ACH Grapes
• Hoaden Court Workers Village

Products and services

• ACH Fruit Tree and stone fruit growing, packing, marketing and distribution operations across 500 acres of modern high-intensity orchards in East Kent, producing apples, pears, cherries, plums and apricots for UK supermarkets.
• ACH Cattle Beef cattle operation running approximately 400 suckler cows bred, fed and finished at Merton Farm, Canterbury, with mob grazing for biodiversity; all progeny are supplied to Waitrose on the Aberdeen Angus traditional breeds scheme.
• ACH Arable Arable cropping including wheat, barley, oilseed rape, beans, oats, maize and grass seed crops grown in rotation with custom-built grain storage facilities at Brook Farm, Wingham.
• ACH Asparagus Asparagus growing operation launched in 2022 with new varietal options and tunnelled crop for early production, extending the harvest window and supplying UK supermarkets.
• ACH Grapes Viticulture business launched in 2024 under ACH Grapes Limited, growing grapes for Wine GB production across over 70 acres of intensively planted vines in the Chartham area, including Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Bacchus and PiWi hybrid clones.
• Hoaden Court Workers Village Industry partnership with Pro-Force offering 54 mobile homes and approximately 300 bed spaces for seasonal agricultural staff, with welfare support, Wi-Fi, social and laundry facilities, and regular supermarket transport.
• Third-Party Grower Packing and Marketing Contract packing, grading, marketing and distribution service for other UK growers whose produce complements ACH Farming's home-grown supply, enabling year-round (up to 52 weeks) delivery to UK supermarket customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Top 5 UK tree and stone fruit grower-packer
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Pro-ForcecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020In 2020, ACH Farming formed an industry partnership with Pro-Force, the leading UK Labour Provider to the horticultural, agricultural, fresh produce and industrial sectors. Jointly they made a significant investment in Hoaden Court Workers Village, an industry-leading accommodation site offering 54 mobile homes and approximately 300 bed spaces for seasonal staff. The partnership provides best-in-class accommodation, facilities and welfare support, ensuring staff compliance with UK H&S standards and giving customers confidence that staff welfare is prioritised.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• G's Fresh: One of the largest UK fresh produce vertically-integrated growers/packers supplying major UK and European retailers. Comparable in integrated supply chain and supermarket GTM but broader in crop range.
• Barfoots: UK fresh produce grower and processor supplying major UK retailers. Comparable in scale and supermarket customer base but with a stronger processing/value-add orientation.

Direct peers

• Haygrove: UK-based grower of berries and cherries supplying major UK supermarkets. Comparable in high-intensity orchard/fruit production, supermarket customer mix and seasonal labor model.
• Mack Multiples: Long-established UK top-fruit (apples and pears) producer and packer supplying major retailers. Directly comparable in crop mix, customer base and grower-packer role.
• Berry Gardens: UK berry grower cooperative marketing and distributing to major UK supermarkets. Comparable in grower-packer-marketer-distributor model and supermarket customer base, though focused on berries vs. tree/stone fruit.
• Hall Hunter Partnership: UK berry grower-packer supplying major UK supermarkets including Waitrose. Comparable in grower-packer model, supermarket customer base and high-intensity soft fruit production.
• Worldwide Fruit: UK-based apple and pear grower-packer-marketer that supplies major UK supermarkets. Highly comparable to ACH Farming's core top-fruit packhouse and supply chain model.
• Huntapac Produce: UK fresh produce grower-packer supplying major retailers. Comparable vertically integrated fresh produce grower-packer model with similar supermarket customer base.
• S&A Produce: UK strawberry and soft-fruit grower-packer supplying major UK supermarkets. Comparable in vertically integrated grower-packer-distributor model and seasonal labor reliance.
• WB Chambers: Large UK mixed farming business supplying major retailers. Comparable in mixed farming, scale of operations and direct-to-retail supply chain model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/achulme.sons.5
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/a-c-hulme-and-sons

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 ACH Farming