At Hunt’s Food Group, our legacy is steeped in tradition and innovation, with our story beginning in 1912. We celebrate our journey from humble beginnings as farmers to becoming a leader in the food wholesale industry. Since our founding, we have consistently prioritised quality, innovation and community.
From distributing milk as Hunt’s Dairies to our expansive range Hunt’s Food Group today, we have evolved while staying true to our core values. Join us as we explore the milestones, challenges and achievements that have shaped Hunt’s Food Group into the trusted wholesaler it is today. Whether you’re a long-time supplier, partner or a new customer, we invite you to discover the rich history that fuels our future.
Ralph Hunt, Ernest’s eldest son, was injured in Gallipoli during World War I, preventing him from farming. Instead, he begins selling milk from the dairy herd to local residents, leading to the creation of Hunt’s Dairies.
Ernest hands back Home Farm Alweston, Marsh Court Farm and Prytown Farm to the Sherborne Castle Estate before the economic depression in 1920 as eldest son Ralph focuses on Hunt’s Dairies.
Ralph purchases a property on Cheap Street in Sherborne. Previously an old fish shop, he moves Hunt’s Dairies to this location. He and his wife, Elsie, live there after their marriage in 1921.
Ralph purchases the property across from the archway, relocating Hunt’s Dairies’ bottling operations here. He opens a Hunt’s Dairies Shop and The Pop In Café (now Bellissima and Capitol Carpets), where he and Elsie lived above. The old fish shop location is sold.
Stanley takes over the management of Blackmarsh Farm from his father. Ernest agreed with Sherborne Castle Estate that Stanley would assume the tenancy upon his death, which occurred in 1935. Meanwhile, Ralph begins producing ice cream commercially on Cheap Street.
Following Ralph’s marriage to Elsie Willis in 1921, Stanley Hunt (Ernest’s younger son) marries Cora Willis in 1931, making it so that two brothers from Sherborne married two sisters from Stirling Farm, Nether Compton.
Ice cream production reaches 100 gallons a day, and the business begins winning multiple awards, including a highly commended award at the National Dairy and Ice Cream Convention at Crystal Palace.
At 18, Michael Hunt, Ralph’s son, serves in World War II, driving trucks to deliver food to soldiers on the front lines in Europe.
Hunt’s Dairies diversifies by selling frozen food and acquiring a site at Tinnys Lane, where ice cream production is relocated.
Ralph passes away, leaving the business to his son Michael, who had been managing it and was the driving force behind the three sites in Sherborne, Yeovil and Taunton.
Robert and Margret Hunt begin farming at Manor Farm in Caundle Marsh a year after their marriage, taking on 110 acres from the Sherborne Castle Estate.
Ice Cream production is outsourced to Peter Benisher in Yeovil under the brand name Reema, as Tinnys Lane becomes a cash and carry. Hunt’s Dairies purchase land behind the shop (now Waitrose), building a new fit for purpose bottling plant and 1,000 pallet coldstore and Head Office extending Carlton House site.
Robert takes on the tenancy at Blackmarsh Farm, a 232-acre property where he milked Guernsey cows. He then acquired the surrounding 150 acres at Clatcombe, which bordered Sherborne Golf Club, where he milked Friesian cows, before returning Manor Farm in Caundle Marsh to the estate.
Hunt’s Dairies purchases the old cinema next to the bottling plant and constructed a workshop and filling station there.
Hunt’s Dairies was sold to Express Dairies, which rebranded the business as Hunt’s Frozen Foods. The company acquires the Ludbourne Road site and submitted planning proposals, while the farming enterprise expanded to 470 acres after Robert took on an additional 88 acres beneath Sherborne Golf Course.
The business moves into the Ludbourne Road premises after a major redevelopment, which at the time was the largest single cold store in Europe.
Hunt’s Frozen Foods launches its own brand of ice cream on 7th July 1977. Around the same time, Robert purchases Manor Farm in Templecombe, comprising 77 acres, and Peter Hunt joins the farming business.
Hunt’s Frozen Foods purchases 3D Frozen Foods, EPP Ice Cream and Frozen Foods in Exeter.
Robert purchases an additional 70 acres in Templecombe taking Manor Farm to 147 acres. Meanwhile, Hunt’s Frozen Foods purchases Webbs Frozen Foods Winchester and sets up its Winchester Operation.
Hunt’s Frozen Foods purchases Snows Frozen Foods and runs business out of Pucklechurch site.
Peter and Robert begin to share farming, and the herd at Blackmarsh Farm transitions from Guernseys to Friesians.
Webbs Frozen Foods rebrands to Winchester Frozen Foods.
Michael completes the construction of the Maltings, converting an old brewery in Sherborne behind the Ludbourne Road site into 25 flats, which were later sold.
Hunt’s Frozen Foods acquires Prices Frozen Foods (JR & TI Simmons Ltd) and merged North Avon Cold Storage and Distribution Limited with Snows Frozen Foods at the Pucklechurch site, establishing Hunts Frozen Foods (Bristol) Limited. Additionally, Hunt’s purchases Cornwall Coldstores Limited and launches the Truro Storage operation.
Michael passes away with Sybil taking over as Chair at Hunt’s Frozen Foods. Meanwhile, Richard moves to Manor Farm in Templecombe.
Hunt’s Frozen Foods acquires Westway Frozen Foods in Bodmin, later relocating the business to the Hunt’s Truro site.
Robert and Margaret purchase and move to Kingsbury Farm in Milborne Port, spanning 230 acres. Subsequently, Robert ends his share in the farming partnership with Peter and Richard, who then venture out on their own. During this period Richard marries Lynne Collis who lived on an adjoining farm. Meanwhile, Peter, the fourth generation farmer, solely takes on the tenancy at Blackmarsh Farm.
Hunt’s Frozen Foods acquires Winchester Frozen Foods and becomes a founding member of The Independent Frozen Food Federation. Richard Hunt begins milking cows at Manor Farm in Templecombe, supplying Barbers Cheesemakers. Meanwhile, milk production at Clatcombe ceases.
Hunt’s Frozen Foods purchases a site at Stalbridge to store intervention butter and for public cold store customers.
Hunt’s Frozen Foods purchase RG Frozen Foods which is based in Bournemouth.
Richard finishes runner up in the South West Dairy Challenge after judges state “Richard is quick to recognise opportunities”. Meanwhile, At Hunt’s Frozen Foods an extension is built at the Stalbridge site and the Truro site is sold.
The Independent Frozen Food Federation rebrands as Caterforce.
Richard and Lynne purchase Elm Farm Yenston from John and Jean Collis (Lynne’s parents).
Richard begins farming at Charcroft Farm in South Brewham, with the Templecombe dairy herd divided between Charcroft Farm and Elm Farm. Richard and Michael Douch join the board at Hunt’s, while Hunt’s Frozen Foods rebrands as Hunt’s Foodservice.
Richard becomes Managing Director at Hunt’s Foodservice.
Hunt’s Foodservice hosts inaugural Food Show at Blackmarsh Farm, inviting key suppliers and customers.
Hunt’s Foodservice acquires Sunnyside, a member of Ice Cream World, located in Weston-Super-Mare.
Hunt’s Foodservice acquires the Childhay Manor brand and My Boys, an ICD member that supplies ice cream vendors. Thomas (Richard’s son) begins working at the company while pursuing his A-Levels and university studies. The Bristol operation was centralised to Weston-Super-Mare, leading to Hunts giving up the lease at Pucklechurch in 2010.
Hunt’s Foodservice purchases ice cream wholesaler Supreme in Bridgwater.
Hunt’s Foodservice purchases chilled wholesaler Regency Foods.
Hunt’s Foodservice acquires the chilled wholesaler Hanley Cross. Meanwhile, Thomas joins the business fulltime after graduating from Reading University. For the first time, Hunt’s provides on-site wholesale and distribution services to Glastonbury Festival. The company also purchases Dobles and Cornish Farmhouse, the beginning of distribution from the Redruth site.
Hunt’s Foodservice purchases Queenswood Natural Foods based in Bridgwater, funded through selling 4 garages Crackmoor (Milborne Port), Three Counties (Crewkerne), Portway (Frome), Lowers (Temple Cloud). Voiteq headset picking is implemented within our warehouses.
Hunt’s Foodservice establishes a site in Fareham, relocating operations from the Winchester site, which was sold in 2017. The Weston-Super-Mare operation moves to a premise in Bridgwater, with the Weston-Super-Mare site being sold in 2016.
Hunt’s Foodservice gains BRC Accreditation for the first time. The company also takes on Yeo Direct (distribtuion arm of Yeo Valley).
Hunt’s Foodservice purchases Hazelbury Bryan Coldstore business from Judds Transport.
The butchery relocates from Sherborne to Pylle after Richard and Thomas acquire a 50% stake in Thorner’s (formally Jon Thorner’s). Hunt’s Foodservice also purchases JM Provisions in Gloucester and acquires the Digby Road site from Bradfords. Additionally, Thomas and Coral get married.
Thomas wins Operations Director of the Year at the British Frozen Food Federation People Awards. Hunt’s acquires Olympia Foods based in Plymouth and Lynne opens a Supermarket at the Digby Road location. Meanwhile, Thorners’ Vegan Pie is awarded the Supreme Champion title at the British Pie Awards.
Sybil passes away with the extended family inheriting shares in Hunt’s. Thomas becomes Managing Director with Richard taking on the role of Chairman. Coral opens the new Farm Shop at Thorner’s in Pylle.
Hunt’s Foodservice acquires Thorner’s, then Richard and Thomas buy out the majority of shareholders giving them a 80% controlling share. The company also purchases the ready meal brand, Gourmade, having previously handled its storage and deliveries for several years. Black Rock, with its wide range of Cornish pasties and sausage rolls is also launched during this time. Additionally, Richard Hunt relinquishes the tenancy at Charcroft Farm.
Hunt’s Foodservice rebrands as Hunt’s Food Group, achieving a turnover exceeding £100 million and earning a spot in the Grocer Big 30 for the first time. The company launches the Hunt’s Community Fund, committing to donate a minimum of £150,000 to charity each year. Following this, Hunt’s Food Group acquires The Health Store and begins distribution from Nottingham. The inaugural Hunt’s Fest is held at Blackmarsh Farm.
Hunt’s Food Group becomes a certified B-Corporation (the second wholesaler to do so) and achieves ISO 45001 accreditation while also taking on local distribution for Trewithen Dairy. Charlie Hunt joins the farming business as a fifth generation farmer after graduating from Newcastle University.
Hunt’s Food Group acquires Capreolus and begins producing charcuterie and bacon at the Rampisham site.
Lynne and the Retail Team open The Farmyard Kitchen at Blackmarsh Farm. A farmside eatery serving delicious dishes featuring ingredients from the very best of Hunt’s suppliers with plans to open a Food Hall later on in the year.
© 2025 Hunt’s Food Group | Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Policy | VAT No: 813054857
