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KS
Coles is a family business, formed in 1963 by Ken and Christine
Coles.
In
the beginning they bought standing crops grown in the rich,
fertile soils of Somerset and Devon, arranged harvesting,
processing and packing, then transported them to wholesale
markets throughout the country. Twenty hour days and seven
day weeks were the norm!
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Chelston
House Farm before development.
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The
business developed steadily and the Coles began growing their
own crops with the purchase in 1974, of Chelston House Farm
near Wellington. Simultaneously renting land locally for further
growing, rather than buying 'off the field', the business
went from strength to strength. In 1989 Eastcombe Farm at
Bishops Lydeard was acquired and is now the home of son Paul
and his wife Sarah.
1989
also saw the completion of a purpose built 20,000 sq. ft processing
and packing station for Swedes on the Chelston site, with
newly installed washing, grading and packing equipment.
To
meet the demands of a discriminating market place, substantial
investment has been made in order to maximise production whilst
retaining the highest quality.
As
with most family run concerns there exists a high degree of
commitment and flexibility, combined with a personal contact
that ensures the best possible service. When the phone rings
it will generally be a Coles who answers it.
Today
KS Coles imports from as far afield as Canada, Portugal, Spain
and Tasmania. The company also exports produce to Germany.
The company employs approximately fifty full-time staff and
up to two hundred and fifty seasonal staff.
Advances
in technology mean that new techniques are being explored
and adopted, coupled to the acquisition of state-of-the-art
plant and machinery, all designed to predict and manage pest
and disease control, increase yield and improve and streamline
operations.
Looking
to the future, plans are laid to extend on-site facilities
with a further processing plant and adjacent cold storage
- KS Coles are committed to continual expansion and development.
KS
Coles, more than thirty years of growing and growing..
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