Naturally Best Fresh Produce Ltd

What Naturally Best Fresh Produce Ltd does

Naturally Best Fresh Produce Ltd is a wholesale fresh produce distributor serving the catering industry across the North West of England. Founded in 1984 and operating as a trading name of Bidfresh Limited, the company delivers fruits, vegetables, salads, dairy, deli items, and specialty ingredients (including micro cress, sea vegetables, edible flowers, and Asian products) directly to restaurants, hotels, schools, hospitals, professional caterers, and wholesale buyers. The registered office is at Seabank House, Southport Business Park, with operating focus on Manchester, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and Merseyside, and stated ability to serve wider areas on request.

The underlying operating model is intentionally low-tech. Orders are taken by phone or email and dispatched via a direct-to-door delivery service; there is no proprietary platform, no mobile application, no public API, and no disclosed digital ordering infrastructure. The website functions as a product catalog and brand presence rather than a transactional system. Core technology is described as "Not applicable - traditional wholesale fresh produce distribution business without proprietary technology systems." The company holds STS Food Safety Standard accreditation as a supplier and distributor.

Commercially, the business operates as a privately held, family-run enterprise with only five employees. Founders Rob Carter and Peter Carter remain in active leadership as co-owners, with Peter also serving as Distribution Manager. Revenue is generated through quote-based, pay-as-you-go wholesale transactions, with produce typically sold by the box; pricing is not publicly disclosed. There is no external investor, private equity, or institutional ownership disclosed, no funding rounds, and no acquisitions or partnerships in the available record. Marketing is minimal, relying on the company website and direct customer contact rather than paid advertising or social channels.

Name

Naturally Best Fresh Produce Ltd

Legal name

Bidfresh Limited

Website

https://naturallybestfresh.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Family-run wholesale fresh produce distributor in North West England, supplying fruits, vegetables, salads, dairy, and specialty ingredients directly to restaurants, hotels, schools, hospitals, and caterers since 1984 under Bidfresh Limited.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wholesale Fresh Produce Distribution

NAICS

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers (424480)

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140)

akta.pro primary industry

Fresh Produce Wholesale (Fruit & Vegetables) (AFAIABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fresh Vegetable Wholesale (AFAIACAB), Fresh Fruit Wholesale (AFAIACAA), Fresh Produce Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAAAC)

Keywords

• Wholesale fresh produce
• Catering supply
• Fruit and vegetable distribution
• Dairy products wholesale
• Direct-to-door delivery

Headquarters

HQ city

Southport

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Fresh Produce Sales: The company generates revenue through wholesale B2B sales of fresh produce including fruits, vegetables, salads, herbs, dairy products, and deli items. Sales are transaction-based, with customers placing orders for bulk delivery. The company sells by the box usually and offers direct-to-door delivery to catering businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Naturally Best Fresh Produce Ltd is a wholesale fresh produce supplier that sells fruits, vegetables, salads, herbs, dairy products, and deli items in bulk (typically by the box) to catering businesses. The company provides direct-to-door delivery across the North West of England, with orders placed via phone or email. It serves restaurants, hotels, schools, hospitals, and professional caterers with a focus on quality, reliability, and specialty produce including micro cress, sea vegetables, edible flowers, and Asian ingredients.

Product overview

Naturally Best Fresh Produce Ltd operates as a wholesale fresh produce supplier to the catering industry, offering a comprehensive portfolio of fresh produce and food items. The core offerings are organized into six main product categories: Wholesale Salad (greens, leaves, lettuce, peas & shoots, peppers, tomatoes), Wholesale Vegetables (allium, baby veg, cruciferous/squash, mushrooms, leafy greens, legumes/grains/chillies, micro veg, prepared vegetables, root vegetables), Wholesale Fruit (apples, pears, berries, citrus, melons, stone fruits, tropical, exotics), Deli Items (antipasti, coulis/juices, dried spices/fruit/chutney, edible items, fruits, olives), Dairy Products (cheese, eggs, butter, cream, milk, yogurt), and Herbs & Spices (fresh herbs, dried spices, Asian products, edible flowers, edible leaves, micro cress, sea vegetables). Additionally, they offer organic produce and seasonal produce as supplementary offerings. The company provides direct-to-door delivery services and primarily serves the catering industry including restaurants, hotels, schools, hospitals, and other catering establishments across the North West of the UK.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wholesale Salad Wholesale fresh salad offerings including greens, leaves, lettuce, peas & shoots, peppers, and tomatoes, sold in bulk to catering businesses.
• Wholesale Vegetables Extensive range of fresh vegetables including allium, baby veg, cruciferous & squash, mushrooms, leafy greens, legumes/grains/chillies, micro veg, prepared vegetables, and root vegetables, sold in bulk to catering businesses.
• Wholesale Fruit Wide variety of fresh fruits including apples, pears, berries, citrus, melons, stone fruits, tropical, and exotic fruits, sold in bulk to catering businesses.
• Deli Items Deli offerings including antipasti, coulis & juices, dried spices/fruit/chutney, edible items, fruits, and olives, sold to catering businesses.
• Dairy Products Dairy selection including cheese varieties, eggs, butter, cream, milk, and yogurt, sold in bulk to catering businesses.
• Herbs & Spices Fresh herbs, dried spices, Asian products, edible flowers, edible leaves, micro cress, and sea vegetables, sold to catering businesses including specialty items not commonly available from standard wholesalers.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Brakes Group: Brakes Group is the UK's largest foodservice wholesaler, supplying fresh produce, meat, dairy, and ambient goods to caterers, restaurants, and public-sector buyers nationwide. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering overlapping fresh produce distribution to the same catering segment but at vastly greater scale and breadth.
• Bidfood: Bidfood is a major UK foodservice distributor serving catering operators with a wide range including fresh produce. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the same foodservice distribution space with national scale, multi-category offering, and route-based delivery.
• Total Produce (now Dole plc): Total Produce was one of Europe's largest fresh produce distributors supplying retailers and foodservice before merging into Dole plc. Comparable as a broad incumbent fresh produce distributor with overlapping customer types in catering and foodservice.

Emerging players

• Berry Gardens: Berry Gardens is a UK grower-owned berry supplier providing soft fruit to retailers and foodservice. Comparable as a specialty fresh produce supplier with foodservice exposure, though more focused on berries rather than a full produce range.

Direct peers

• Fresh Direct (UK): Fresh Direct is a UK specialist fresh foodservice distributor supplying restaurants, hotels, and pubs with fruit, vegetables, dairy, and freshly prepared products. Closely comparable as a direct competitor focused on fresh produce to caterers with direct delivery model.
• Worldwide Fruit: Worldwide Fruit is a UK-based fresh fruit supplier to retailers and foodservice operators, offering apples, pears, citrus, berries, and exotic fruits. Comparable as a directly comparable fresh fruit specialist serving foodservice channels with similar product focus.
• Reynolds Catering Supplies: Reynolds is a regional foodservice wholesaler in the UK serving catering businesses with fresh and ambient products including produce. Comparable as a regional catering-focused wholesaler with overlapping customer base of restaurants, hotels, and care caterers.
• Castell Howell Foods: Castell Howell is a regional Welsh foodservice wholesaler serving hotels, restaurants, schools, and care homes across the UK with fresh and frozen produce. Comparable as a directly competing regional fresh produce and foodservice distributor with similar customer profile and product mix.
• Orchard Valley Foods: Orchard Valley Foods supplies prepared fruit, vegetables, and salads to UK food manufacturers, foodservice, and caterers. Comparable as a directly comparable fresh produce supplier with value-added prepared lines serving the same catering and foodservice segment.

Regional players

• Henderson Wholesale: Henderson Wholesale is a major foodservice and retail wholesaler based in Northern Ireland serving caterers across the UK and Ireland. Comparable as a regional foodservice wholesaler with similar multi-category offering to catering customers, though operating in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/naturally-best-fresh-produce-ltd

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Naturally Best Fresh Produce Ltd