Tesco Audit – Grade 5

Highest grade. Retained for the second consecutive year, across a supply programme of over 360 million apples and pears annually. Tesco’s own procurement standards are among the most demanding in UK grocery. Their Grade 5 is not a certificate – it’s their team independently validating how this site performs.

BRCGS Audit – AA+

Highest grade. Retained year-on-year. And unannounced – meaning no fixed date, no preparation window. Auditors arrived and assessed the site exactly as it operates on any normal working day.

These grades don’t sit in isolation. Cottage Farms currently operates at a 99.98% on-time delivery service level. The audits confirm the standards are right. That number confirms they translate into delivery.

Auditors were extremely complimentary about the standard of the site and how the audits required little senior leadership involvement, as the shop floor team owned the process and could demonstrate extremely well what they do and why they do it. This reflects an operational team that holds itself to these standards every day, not just when it counts.

These results don’t happen by accident. Quality runs across everything we do and our attention to detail is second to none. We treat every customer’s product as if it were our own – optimising quality at every step and ensuring it’s handled on a site with the highest standards of food safety and hygiene. We encourage everyone to take pride in their work to make this business a long-term success. These grades are what that looks like in practice.

Huge congratulations and thanks to all the team at Cottage Farms, these results are yours.

What buyers can take from this

• A site that protects your brand through strong hygiene controls, traceability and documented processes
• Audit readiness on a normal working day, proven by AA+ under an unannounced assessment
• Consistency that scales, with procedures embedded across the team, not reliant on a few individuals

If you’re evaluating your current packing or ripening partner, or looking to move supply, we’d welcome the conversation. Arrange a site visit or discuss a supply programme with Chris Browning, Owner and Director.

chris@cottagefarms.co.uk | 01892 722702

The post Tesco Grade 5. BRCGS AA+. What Our 2026 Audit Results Tell Buyers About Choosing a Packing Partner appeared first on Cottage Farms.

With Allied Growers based on site, collaboration is close day to day. It supports faster decision-making, clearer communication and a joined-up approach from intake planning through to customer requirements.

Industry commentary has also been positive around the UK crop and the importance of a resilient home-grown top fruit supply chain (British Apples & Pears and Fresh Produce Journal have both covered the season’s outlook and the focus on quality and continuity.)

What we’re seeing this season

Good harvest and strong arrivals. Our grower base has delivered a good harvest, with intake ahead of estimates in places. Arrivals for grading and packing have been of excellent quality, which sets up the season well.

Key varieties in motion. The mainline British apple varieties are in full swing, including Gala and Braeburn. Apples are moving through grading and packing for supermarket supply, and we are handling good volumes of pears through controlled ripening for the ready-to-eat lines.

How we protect eating quality and availability

Buyers need a supply that behaves as expected. Our job is to deliver that consistency, day in, day out. Our 99.98% on-time delivery performance reflects our operational discipline.

• Grading decisions that support the spec (and reduce waste). Our quality management includes AI optical grading, helping us make accurate, repeatable sorting decisions. Where fruit does not meet a specific retail spec, it is redirected to wholesale or processing routes to protect value and minimise waste.
  
• Packing capability that scales with demand. Alongside apples and pears, we pack mangoes and exotic fruits, using our flow-wrappers , but additionally with labelling and carton packing. We have also invested in technology, including robotic packing and palletising, so that we can scale efficiently as demand changes. What drives us is quality and making it easier for customers to deliver fruit at its best to their consumers.
  
• Ripening control, with reporting and support. Ripening is where eating quality is protected or lost, so control matters. In our modern ripening chambers, we already ripen over 1 million boxes of pears every year, with the capacity to ripen up to 1.5 million boxes annually. We have also expanded our fruit range to include mangoes. Our experienced product managers provide customers with up-to-date reports from the ripening chambers and practical advice on how to optimise product performance, all based on data.
  
• Storage and supply management. Storage space can be tight through September and October. This year it has been at a premium, so we have actively managed supply against orders, keeping fruit moving and clearing through the southern hemisphere fruit we hold.

Yield optimisation: what it means in buyer terms

Our yield optimisation work is practical. It means getting the best fruit into the best returning outlets, while reducing avoidable waste and handling costs.

In day-to-day terms, it focuses on:

• Right fruit, right outlet, right time, based on grading outcomes and fruit condition
• Margin protection through smarter allocation when demand or spec shifts
• Waste reduction by planning for secondary routes, not reacting late

What this means for buyers

For retail, wholesale and processing customers, this approach is designed to deliver:

• Consistency and spec discipline, supported by robust grading, packing and ripening control
• Flexibility and continuity, through planned secondary markets and processing routes
• Clear communication and operational reliability, especially when storage and supply are under pressure

Tesco is a long-standing retail customer, and Cottage Farms packs over 360 million apples and pears for them annually. That scale only works with a tight operation and good collaboration across growers, customers and our onsite teams.

Looking ahead

We’re confident in the season ahead, and we’re ready to support buyers who need a reliable partner for UK topfruit programmes. Whether you’d like to discuss a supply plan, arrange a visit, or talk through how we manage eating quality and yield through the season, please get in touch.

Email Chris Browning, Owner and Director at chris@cottagefarms.co.uk or call on 01892 722702.

The post On Spec and On Time: How We Run the UK Apple and Pear Season appeared first on Cottage Farms.

Here are 9 key reasons you should choose to work with us:

1. Trusted by Major Retailers
   We’re proud to supply Tesco and other leading UK retailers, proof of the trust placed in our service, standards and results.
   
2. 99.98% On-Time Delivery
   Reliability matters. Our record shows we consistently meet deadlines, ensuring your supply chain keeps moving without disruption.
   
3. Flexible, Tailored Solutions
   Every buyer’s needs are different. We adapt quickly, offering the flexibility to handle specific requirements, last-minute changes, and seasonal peaks.
   
4. Full Compliance & Certifications
   You can be confident that we meet all key food industry standards and regulations, protecting both your brand and your customers.
   
5. Advanced Quality Control
   Our AI optical grading technology inspects fruit inside and out, guaranteeing consistency for your customers. It allows us to grade to your specifications and make sure we pack only the finest fruit. Other fruit is redirected to wholesale or juicing, ensuring quality while minimising waste.
   
6. State-of-the-Art Ripening & Packing Facilities
   Our modern facilities allow precise ripening and careful packing that maximise shelf life, reduce waste, and offer superior eating quality. We have a ripening capacity for 1.5 million boxes of fruit annually.
   
7. Proactive, Transparent Communication
   We keep you informed every step of the way with seamless automated reporting and responsive updates, so you’re never left guessing. Our experienced team is always at hand to help optimise yield and reduce costs.
   
8. Sustainability Focus
   We’re committed to operating responsibly, supporting buyers who value sustainable supply partners. From solar-powered energy to reducing food waste, we’re continually investing in greener solutions.
   
9. A Partnership Approach
   We don’t just deliver a service, we work alongside you as a partner, going above and beyond to help you succeed.

Ready to Partner With Us?

If you need a fruit packing and ripening partner who delivers scale, quality, and reliability, we’d love to talk. Whether you’re in retail, wholesale, catering, or processing, our team is here to make sure your requirements are met and exceeded.

Why not ask us for a quote? Email Chris Browning, Owner and Director at chris@cottagefarms.co.uk or call on 01892 722702.

Let us know if you’d like to visit our facility; we’d love to show you around!

The post 9 Key Reasons to Choose Cottage Farms for Fruit Packing and Ripening appeared first on Cottage Farms.