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Fruit Growing in the UK - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Harry Dee Harry Dee London, United Kingdom Last Updated: August 2024 SIC A01.200

Revenue

£1.1bn

2024-25

£1.1bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£XX.Xm

Employees

25,536

Businesses

651

Wages

£XXX.Xm

Fruit Growing in the UK industry analysis

The UK Fruit Growing industry produces roughly 700,000 tonnes of fruit per year. The climate of the UK limits fruit varieties so the market is focused on soft fruits, like strawberries and raspberries, and orchard fruits, like apples and pears. The climate is unsuitable for tropical fruits, including bananas and oranges, which means that these are almost all imported to the UK. Soft fruits tend to be the most profitable fruits as they have a much higher price per kg than other fruits. Fruits grown in the UK are both sold to households, through retailers, but are also widely used in food production to make popular flavours, desserts and drinks. 

Trends and Insights

  • Soft fruit growers up their innovation efforts. The introduction of polytunnels has extended the growing season of soft fruits such as strawberries, making them more profitable and encouraging growers to shift focus from pears and apples.
  • Improved farming techniques help the strawberry market flourish. Enhanced farming methods have extended the growing season of strawberries, bolstering productivity and driving high domestic consumption – which is good, because they don’t export well.
  • The South East's fertile soil favours fruit growing. The warm climate and low rainfall in counties like Kent and East Sussex make the region a prime location for successful horticulture businesses.
  • Cost-efficiency is key to staying competitive. Using low-cost production techniques and tapping into the rising organic segment can significantly increase a farmer's profitability and help them secure a competitive edge.

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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.3 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £1.1bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Soft fruit innovation has been vital as it's particularly susceptible to adverse weather conditions and cold frosts

  • The UK industry is particularly well known for its soft fruit production, especially strawberries, which are heavily entwined with summertime cultural life and major events including the Wimbledon tennis tournament.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Fruit Growing in the UK
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Funding and subsidy switch is concerning lots of farmers

  • The government is changing the way it subsidises farms. While part of the EU, farms were subsidies based on output; the more food you produce, the more subsidies you get. But now, subsidies will be allocated based on environmental actions taken by farmers on their land.

Biggest companies in the Fruit Growing in the UK

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue (£m)
2025
Haygrove Ltd
38.8
Place UK Ltd
28.6
Clock House Farm Ltd
28.3

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Fruit Growing in the UK
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Strawberries, Apples and Raspberries. Strawberries is the largest segment of the Fruit Growing in the UK.

Trends and Insights

Strawberries grown in the UK are mostly sold and eaten domestically

  • Strawberry sales have expanded in recent years, though this is primarily down to suring prices. According to Defra, between 2018-2023, the value of strawberry production in the UK rose 42.6%, but yields dropped 24.4% in the same period.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry comprises farms involved in growing a wide range of fruit, generally outdoors in orchards or polytunnels.

What's included in this industry?

StrawberriesApplesRaspberries and cherriesBlackcurrants, pears and plumsCurrantsGooseberries, blueberries and tropical and exotic fruits

Companies

Haygrove LtdPlace UK LtdClock House Farm Ltd

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

POLYTUNNELSMARKETING INTERMEDIARIES/AGENTSPRODUCER ORGANISATION (PO)BOX SCHEME

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 01.2 - Fruit Growing in the UK

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Soft fruit growers up their innovation efforts. The introduction of polytunnels has extended the growing season of soft fruits such as strawberries, making them more profitab...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Improved farming techniques help the strawberry market flourish. Enhanced farming methods have extended the growing season of strawberries, bolstering productivity and drivin...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The South East's fertile soil favours fruit growing. The warm climate and low rainfall in counties like Kent and East Sussex make the region a prime location for successful h...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Cost-efficiency is key to staying competitive. Using low-cost production techniques and tapping into the rising organic segment can significantly increase a farmer's profitab...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Haygrove records robust growth amid challenges. Despite harsh weather conditions, Brexit concerns and the pandemic, the company has seen its revenue climb owing to increased ...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Haygrove Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Place UK Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Clock House Farm Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Haygrove Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Place UK Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Clock House Farm Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Brexit shakes support for UK fruit growers. The UK's exit from the EU means the loss of CAP's subsidies, with the government shifting its focus to environmental protection in...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

High-value fruits boost farmers' returns. Their increased production has pushed up profit, while a drop in the cost of vital inputs like fertiliser has also played a part.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Assets (2018-2022)
  • Liabilities (2018-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Fruit Growing in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?

The market size of the Fruit Growing in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £1.1bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Fruit Growing in the UK industry in 2024?

There are 651 businesses in the Fruit Growing in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Fruit Growing in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Fruit Growing in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 0.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Fruit Growing in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Fruit Growing in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Fruit Growing in the UK market in United Kingdom?

The biggest companies operating in the Fruit Growing market in United Kingdom are Haygrove Ltd, Place UK Ltd and Clock House Farm Ltd

What does the Fruit Growing in the UK in United Kingdom include?

Strawberries and Apples are part of the Fruit Growing in the UK industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Fruit Growing in the UK in United Kingdom?

The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is Haygrove Ltd.

How competitive is the Fruit Growing in the UK industry in United Kingdom?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Fruit Growing in the UK industry in United Kingdom.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Cereals, Leguminous Crops & Oilseed Growing in the UK
  • Vegetable Growing in the UK
  • Flower & Plant Growing in the UK

Complementors

  • Fruit & Vegetable Processing in the UK

International industries

  • Fruit & Nut Farming in the US
  • Fruit & Nut Farming in Canada
  • Grape Growing in Australia
  • Grape Growing in New Zealand
  • Fruit and Nut Growing in China

View all industries in United Kingdom

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

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Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the UK include:

  • Office for National Statistics
  • Office for Budget Responsibility
  • Bank of England

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

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