Grower's Organic Success Story
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Macleod Organics, the main supplier of organic produce to the Highlands, was launched from the Macleod family farm at Ardersier in 1999.
The business now has a staff of eight and turns over half a million pounds annually. The company has a well established box scheme for organic produce in the Highlands and is expanding into the Central Belt of Scotland through its acquisition of a box scheme previously run by Damhead Organics.
The origins of the company lie in the philosophy of its owner, Donnie Macleod, who was looking for a market opportunity for small farmers and crofters like himself. The distribution method has given Macleods and its growers an identifiable market and one which is of sufficient scale to be sustainable.
Donnie began by looking for local growers who were willing to contribute to the box scheme, the only proviso being that they had to become organic growers.
In order to develop a customer base, he worked to establish farmers' markets in Inverness, Dingwall, Forres, Elgin and North Kessock to sell produce and to sign up customers to the box scheme.
He now has nine Scottish growers and also sources supplies from elsewhere in England, Wales and from Europe, most notably Holland, to supplement the boxes when there is a gap in certain produce from local suppliers.
This approach means that the growers are guaranteed customers and a regular income, which in turn means they become more sustainable enterprises. Similarly, the customers are guaranteed some food sustainability with the added benefits that organic farming can bring to communities.
Key points from this case study:
- A similar philospohy can be essential to successful collaborations
- identifying a market can help you identify who you need to collabroate with to succeed
Download the full case study as a PDF
