ORGANIC BUSINESSES OF THE YEAR REVEALED BY THE SOIL ASSOCIATION

06 April 2003

An organic entrepreneur from Devon and a high-profile dairy co-operative group based in Somerset have picked up this year's Soil Association Organic Industry Awards.

Guy Watson who set up a tremendously successful organic delivery service, has been named Organic Business Person of the Year. Running the service from Riverford Organic Farm in Buckfastleigh, Devon, Riverford delivers around 5,500 boxes of fresh organic vegetables to households across the south and south west each week. Riverford's profit has increased by 15% in the last year, in a period that has seen a rise in the percentage of organic food sold through the supermarkets.

Deliveries are organised through a continually expanding network of franchisees and the majority of the food is supplied by local organic farms. The business has shown its commitment to environmental development in other countries by supporting an organic demonstration farm in Kenya.

The Organic Milk Suppliers' Co-operative won the Consumer Education Award which recognises efforts to increase consumer awareness of the benefits of organic food and the issues surrounding its production. Set up in 1994 OMSCo, which is based in Axbridge, Somerset, has 350 members around the UK. The co-operative's chief executive Sally Bagenal, staff and members were commended for meeting the problems within the organic dairy industry head-on.

The oversupply of organic milk prompted OMSCo to undertake a bold and broad-based campaign to encourage consumers to buy more organic milk including producing an organic food guide for parents with toddlers, information boards on the footpaths of organic farms, and promoting a health message in the consumer media.

The awards are organised by the Soil Association and Natural Products magazine. Guy Watson and Sally Bagenal were presented with their awards at an organic dinner in London on Sunday as part of Organic Products Europe, the UK's largest organic trade show.

Martin Cottingham, the Soil Association's Marketing Director who led the panel of judges said, "The strong growth of the organic market is largely due to the hard work and dedication of the individuals and companies who produce organic food. These awards recognise the most outstanding people and businesses who deliver innovation, great products and thriving enterprises."

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For media enquiries contact Sue Flook, Soil Association Media Manager on 0117 914 2448 or sflook@soilassociation.org

Guy Watson can be contacted on 01803 762720.

Sally Bagenal can be contacted via 0117 910 2843