UK mega-herb grower enjoys offering ‘exotic’ options

Emloyee Charlotte Christian says that in addition to traditional herbs, the company’s exotic varieties business is strong. "Chocolate Mint is one of our more popular mints. Berries and Cream is a relatively new variety to us and our customers are still getting to know it, so that one sold a good deal less than Chocolate mint. And strawberry mint is an interesting one that we will be growing for the first time in 2014. We sell 25 varieties of Mint altogether."

Other varieties include banana, chocolate, eau de cologne, pineapple mint, blackcurrant, pineapple sage, and lemon curd thyme are growing alongside the more traditional herbs. Many of the varieties have actually been around for years while others have been found by people on their global travels or have appeared as sports on existing nurseries. These varieties are often then developed by specialist companies who try to promote the best attributes of the new variety. This may be scent and or growth habit.

The company has recently completed a major redevelopment, replacing the original poly tunnels with a new greenhouse so create around an acre-and-a-half of glasshouse space.

"We have always had year round production as we already had some glass prior to replacing the tunnels. The new glass significantly improves our infrastructure, allowing us to produce not only more but most importantly better quality. The garden center market is seasonal with sales peaking during the spring. The new development will allow us to better handle the huge peak rather than producing all year round," says Charlotte. 

The main end customers are garden centers, which the company supplies both directly and via wholesalers. "We deal with both local customers who collect from us, to garden centers all around the UK. The mint for the supermarket side is supplied to a local company who then supplies to supermarkets for national distribution."

In the future Country Plants and Herbs are looking to further enhance their growing reputation as one of the premier suppliers of herbs to top UK garden centers.