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Chilli plants with red fruit

About Fresca

Fresca includes companies that own land to grow fresh produce directly, as well as partner with specialist growers of global renown – located both in the UK and much further afield. Our facilities also add value to that produce with the capability to ripen and pack to order.

We supply the very best of what the UK has to offer alongside top quality imported products from all around the world.

We are recognised for our passionate, knowledgeable colleagues, for our flexibility, resourcefulness and ambition. Ongoing investment in innovation and business intelligence helps us identify fresh and exciting opportunities.

Our Group Structure

Our companies cover 4 core functions – we are growing specialists, produce sourcing experts, and we provide key services including customs clearance and co-packing, and varietal development.

Growing

Sourcing

Services

Development

Our Mission & Values

We have one mission – to be The First Choice Produce Partner.
Doing business the right way – ethically and sustainably for our people, partners, products and planet.
When you connect with a Fresca company, you will find that our actions reflect our company’s values.

FLEXIBILITY

In our way of working, our service and our direction

RESOURCEFULNESS

Finding solutions, even in the toughest of times

EXCELLENCE

In our products, our people, our facilities and our performance

SUSTAINABILITY

Working for a greater future, stronger ethics and longer relationships

CHARACTER

A group with diversity, passion and personality, with people who care

AMBITION

Driving developments for Fresca, for our people and our partners

Man in fruit processing warehouse smiles

What Matters To Us

We invest in an ethically responsible and sustainable future. Our approach to business is to form partnerships, which is the foundation of our success. We work incredibly hard to create value for our partners – for our retail and wholesale customers, for our network of growers and suppliers, and of course our own colleagues, who share our values. Our people manage categories and products, linking with the world’s best growers to create a powerful commercial proposition. This is why to our customers, growers, suppliers, communities and most importantly our own people, Fresca is the First Choice Produce Partner.

Old Sepia photo of a horse and cart

Our Roots

We’ve been nourishing the nation for over 150 years, since our founder, Matthew Mack, entered the original Covent Garden Market in 1874, with his barrow of fresh produce ahead of the competition. That same pioneering spirit still exists in our DNA today – our Chairman, Chris Mack, is the 4th generation of the Mack family, and to this day stands by it being our people that make the difference. We all live our culture that nothing is impossible, and new ideas are embraced and explored.

Vertical integration is a key part of our story. Fresca Group includes companies that own land and grow fresh produce – directly, and with specialist partners, both here in the UK and around the globe.

Our Story

Although Fresca Group Limited was established as the overall holding company for our rapidly expanding group, our story starts over 150 years ago.

1874

Matthew Mack opened the first Mack stand at the original Covent Garden Market.

Mack stand in the Tin Market at Covent Garden 1874 - Men on a horse drawn cart

1936

Saw the opening of the wholesale branch in Southampton.

1936 M&W Mack Ltd shop Southampton opening.

1961

New site built at Paddock Wood.

Mack and Edwards New site built at Paddock Wood 1961

1965

Wholesale expanded into Bristol, Cardiff and Birmingham markets.

1965 wholesale markets - men stacking crates of fruit

1978

Chris Mack joins the business.

Chris Mack when he first joined 1978

1988

Moved to larger premises – The Fresh Produce Centre.

The Fresh Produce Centre being built in 1988

2005

Established Fresca.

Fresca Group Logo

2005

Acquired Primafruit.

Arial view of the Primafruit warehouse

2005

Established Thanet Earth as a joint venture. First salad crops were harvested in 2009.

Arial view of the Thanet Earth site.

2006

Established Manor Fresh as a joint venture business.

People check fruit on a conveyor

2007

Acquired DGM Growers.

Tractor in a field with a dgm growers trailer

2017

Established FreshPLUS co-packing operation within The Fresh Produce Centre.

Fresh Plus warehouse

2018

Established The Avocado Company.

Box of Avocados

2018

Established Fresh Clear.

Arial view of a large docks with ships and containers.

2018

Established Fresquita Farm in Antioquia, Colombia with joint venture partners, Cartama, and now grow our own avocados on the 422 hectare farm.

Cartama – Fresquita Farm.

2023

Thanet Earth added whole head lettuce to their salad portfolio.