The G's Story

2011	Feltwell Growers Ltd change name to Shropshire Energy (UK) Ltd. Planning application successfully submitted for major new mushroom growing facility at May Farm near Littleport. Chelbury Mushroom Farms Ltd set up, and purchases the trade of Mother Earth Organic Mushrooms Ltd. Application for PGI (Protected Geographic Indication) status for Fenland Celery put forward for EU approval.
2010	Acquired Upper Moore packhouse and part of the trade of Simms & Woods. Acquired remaining shareholding of joint venture company Fenlander Ltd (potato business). Launch of "fresh & naked" unwashed salads brand with exclusive deal with Tesco. "fresh & naked" is shortlisted for the Quality Food Awards in November. US Beets Inc established to sell British fresh beetroot products in the US. Guy Shropshire Jr moves to the States to establish the business, based in Philadelphia. New celery variety Sweet Sensation launched in Tesco. G's win new Marks & Spencer grocery range business, launching 14 lines of pickles with improved recipes in innovative new jars, reducing packaging by 80%. G's begin investing in farming business in Senegal, W Africa for winter salad production. J B Shropshire & Sons receive Marks & Spencer Plan A Award, for focus on quality, customer satisfaction and sound environmental practices.
2009	Acquired the lettuce growing assets of Maurice Crouch Growers Ltd. £800K invested in new washing, grading & packing facilities for radish. G's España achieves 100% LEAF Marque. G's España farming over 4000ha of high quality land in Spain with excellent water access and utilizing 40 harvest rigs to supply customers across Europe.
2008	Merger in Czech Republic with Valtr family company, entering plant raising, flowers & nursery business.
2007	G's acquire Norman Olverson Ltd, a leading beetroot producer of the Red Velvet brand. Launch of Shropshire's consumer brand, including Fenland and Heritage ranges of fresh produce, and organic box. Acquired the spring onion, asparagus & legume farming business based at Sandfields Farm near Evesham from Bomfords.
2006	J B Shropshire & Sons Ltd (G's Cambs Farms) receives the Leaf Marque Grower of the Year award. G's Grower Keith Shropshire's Woodhall Farm is named Organic Grower of the Year. New greenhouse plant-raising facility at 2nd Willow Bank, Littleport producing 80m plants in its 1st year. Organic sales reach £20m; Fenland Organics box scheme launched. De-salination plant commissioned on Baranquillo Farm, Torre Pacheco in SE Spain. Purchase of Redmere Farm (655ha) and May Farm (59ha). Bought Pestitel Stratov and Pascual Polabi established with 150ha salads in Czech.
2005	Prepared salad business sold to Geest.
2004	G's Fresh Snackpot & Mild Beetroot ranges win in the Ideas to Dine For competition at Food & Drink Expo 2004. G's team tackled the 3 Peaks Challenge again, successfully raising over £17,000 for charity.
2003	G's Fresh Beetroot achieves Investors In People recognition. Commended Award in Producer of the Year category of The Soil Association's Organic Food Awards.
2002	Guy Shropshire receives Grower's Lifetime Achievement Award. Purchase of Pascual Hermanos SA, including 1200ha of land in Murcia with substantial farms in Aguilas and introducing tomatoes and citrus to the Group's range of crops. Purchase of Henry Thompson (Littleport) Farms, adding 1,400 ha (owned & rented). Purchase of 400ha Engine Farm at Prickwillow, near Ely. After an exceptional year Group sales total £180m, farming a total of 4,880ha.
2001	G's 'Simply Serve' prepared range for caterers & food manufacturers launched. G's Fresh Beetroot acquires beetroot packers Chris Etherington(1993) Ltd. Purchase of Priory Produce onion business, Ramsey. New Beetroot factory opened at Hostmoor Avenue, March; Buntings acquired. John Shropshire receives National Agricultural Award from the Royal Agricultural Society. 40% of G's España's sales to Europe, 60% to UK. Norfolk Farms win Worshipful Company of Fruiterers Environmental Award.
2000	G's 'Simply Salad' prepared salads range launched at Food & Drink Expo 2000. Winners of Packaging & Distribution Category of the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers Environmental Awards and the Cambridgeshire Biodiversity Challenge County Award Hainey Farm launched as LEAF Demonstration Farm.
1990's	Farming increased to a total of 3,800 ha; Group employs over 1,500 people.
1999	Purchase of Mersley Farms (Isle of Wight) garlic & sweetcorn businesses. Winners of Food from Britain's Potato Exporter of the Year Award, & Fenland Agricultural Business of the Year Award. First fields in organic conversion at Cambs Farms. G's team completes the 3 Peaks Challenge and raise over £9,000 for charity!
1998	Start of £10m new prepared produce factory at Barway.
1995	Rosedene Farm in Norfolk (323ha) purchased. G's Fresh Beetroot win Gold in the ADAS/Sunday Telegraph Food & Drink Awards. New Cold Chain Distribution Centre opened at Barway; total sales reach £50m.
1994	G's send the first lorryload of UK fresh produce through the Channel Tunnel. Winners of DTi's Languages for Export Award. New Root Salads Factory opened. G's España supplies its first non-UK retailer - Edeka in Germany.
1993	G's receive Food From Britain's Export Innovation Award, & Fresh Produce Consortium's International Trader of the Year. G's España purchase Torre Pacheco packhouse facility.
1992	G's España's land based increased to 114ha.
1990	Purchase of Hassy Ltd, including beetroot business at March from St Ivel. Sale of Waterfalls to Howard Long International (HLI).
1980's	Farm area increased to 2,300 ha. Laser land-levelling technology imported from USA. Iceberg, Chinese Leaf & Little Gem crops introduced. Pascual established as a respected and well-known European brand for citrus, other fruit, brassicas, celery and lettuce.
1987	Purchase of Waterfalls (Mr Fresh) fresh produce processing business at Methwold. First celery rig in action in Spain.
1986	David Abram begins farming 28ha in Fortuna as G's España SL, growing celery, Iceberg, Little Gem, Romaine and Brassicas for the UK market.
1985	Started development of farming operations in Spain with establishment of G's España SA. Winners of BAC Award for development of marketing opportunities.
1984	G's Growers Cooperative launched. G's Marketing Ltd formed. Introduction of new G's â€œNaturally Freshâ€ logo.
1980	Guy's son Peter Shropshire joined the business.
1970's	Farming increased to 1,040 ha.
1977	New refrigerated 7,000t onion store completed.
1976	Guy's son John Shropshire joined the business.
1974	New Barway packhouse opened. Guy Shropshire invented the strawplanter.
1960's	Acreage increased to 1,700 acres (680ha) following purchase of Abbey Farm at West Dereham in Norfolk.
1968	Acquired Dimmock's Cote Farm, Stretham
1961	Began selling to Marks & Spencer. Started growing Cos lettuce and Onions. Introduction of the G's Brand.
1950's	The Pascual brothers establish Pascual Hermanos in Valencia, Spain.
1957	Began washing & prepacking celery. Acreage increased to 1,100 acres (440 ha).
1955	Started celery growing with 3 acres. Acquired Hainey Farm near Ely. Began farming at Wissington in Norfolk.
1952	Guy Shropshire starts with 300 acres (120ha) at Fordey Farm, near Ely in the Cambridgeshire Fens.