A WELLINGTON farming company has been named the pick of the bunch after scooping a top award.


KS Coles Ltd, who are based at Chelston House Farm near Wellington, has been named Sainsbury’s agricultural supplier of the year 2015.
The firm was given the award at the supermarket’s recent national farming conference.


Director Paul Coles said he was ‘gobsmacked’ when his family’s company, which produces swedes, peas and broad beans, was announced as the winners.


“It was a total surprise but it is a big achievement and it does give us a feeling of recognition for the hard work of my parents, sisters and the massive effort put in by the whole team here,” Mr Coles said.


The business was started in 1964 by Paul’s parents Ken and Christine, and over half a century it has grown to become one of the largest suppliers of fresh swedes, peas and beans in the country.


As well as Sainsbury’s, KS Coles supplies its products to Morrisons, Waitrose, Co-op and Aldi, as well as wholesalers and independent retailers across Europe.


The company’s main base is in Somerset. However they grow their produce across the south west, in parts of the Midlands and Scotland.
They have even recently started growing produce in Portugal.


During the peak season, the company employs 300 pea and bean pickers from Eastern Europe, meaning they can supply between 2,000 to 3,000 crates of legumes to customers each day.


The factory is open seven days a week, all year round except for Christmas Day, and they have a constant supply of stock coming in and going out.


Mr Coles said the business thrived on passion and pride for produce.
“It is something we are very, very passionate about. You have to be because there is no let up,” Mr Coles said.


“It is very demanding but not only are we working to put food on the table for our families but we are putting food on the table for families across the UK and parts of Europe.”


Mr Coles believes that one of the company’s greatest strengths is their high level of control over the product, as they are involved in every process from seed to shelf.


“It is very competitive but we have a great technical team who help us to move the business forward in innovative ways,” he added.


Paul’s father Ken, who has overseen the business with his wife Christine for 52 years, said there was no big secret behind their success – lauding the role of the family in the business.


“In my experience, the keys to success are a good brain, good health and a good wife and family. If you have that you can’t go far wrong,” he said.
For more information on the company, log on to kscoles.co.uk.