Fruit and veg firm to expand

A Shropshire company that provides doorstep deliveries of organic fruit and vegetable is bucking a national trend by expanding its business, while similar firms fail.

Boxfresh Organics, based at Rodenhurst Business Park, in Rodington, near Shrewsbury, says orders are rising, even though similar firms in other parts of the UK have seen their trade dwindle.

Today Des Walker, boss of Boxfresh Organics, said: "We've been braced for a fall in orders but it hasn't happened.

"We were concerned about the impact of the credit crunch and anticipated falling demand. But, in fact, the reverse has been true. We've got a hardcore of customers and sales are growing.

"We're providing a unique service by delivering a locally-sourced product. The people in Shropshire who buy from us are committed to the organic lifestyle.

"People will still pay if they are being given the best quality and the freshest produce. They like the reassurance we provide that their fruit and vegetables are of the highest standard and are local. We had a very good May and June looks as though it will also be a good month."

Elsewhere, however, a different picture has emerged.

Thousands of UK families have cancelled their boxes, deeming them a luxury they can no longer afford during times of rising food prices, increased fuel cost, more expensive mortgages and the rising value of the Euro.

Some of the UK's largest box schemes have run into trouble after losing up to 20 per cent of trade.

Isobel Davies, founder of the north Yorkshire-based Farmaround, said: "People are worried sick about the economy and they think that cutting out £12 or £15 a week is an easy saving."