Market garden owners Anne Taylor and Wendy Seel are searching for a successor to write the next chapter in the story of their award-winning Aberdeenshire organic veg-box business, Vital Veg. Started 17 years ago in a bare field with a hoe and an old Subaru car as the only assets, Vital Veg is now a thriving local business with skilled staff and many customers. Anne and Wendy now plan to focus their time on other projects on their small farm, but with their organic veg boxes being in such high demand they are keen that Vital Veg carries on into the future with a new owner.
Many business owners look for the highest bidder, but Anne and Wendy recognise that the new owner of Vital Veg won’t necessarily be the person with the deepest pockets. First and foremost they want the new owner to be someone who genuinely shares their belief in the values which underpin organic farming, and who will continue to enrich the market garden for nature as well as for profit.
To ensure that they don’t exclude the right person by considering only the sale price, Anne and Wendy are launching their innovative search by asking for bids that can be anywhere from a £1.00 down-payment in combination with a variety of repayment options, right up to a cash payment of the full market value – and any creative proposals in between. Applicants will have to convince Anne and Wendy that they have the right offering to become the next custodians of Vital Veg.
Nationwide demand for organic veg boxes is growing year on year as both concern for nature and support for buy-local continue to rise. Increasing numbers of people are recognising the value of working outdoors in harmony with nature. This is set to be an interesting chapter in the history of this little organic vegetable business.
Wendy Seel, Partner, said “After 14 years in plant science research and then 17 years as commercial growers we are looking for our next challenge. Vital Veg has become an important part of the community, and is a hotspot for nature and biodiversity. It is important to us that whoever takes over has the passion and skill to continue what we have started. We don’t want to exclude the right person by sticking resolutely to conventional business sale processes.”
Mark Hope, DeesideCAN (Climate Action Network) and customer said ”Vital Veg have been providing our vegetables and fruit for more than a decade. We feel very fortunate to have a weekly delivery of locally & organically grown produce of outstanding quality and taste. We are delighted to support a local business which is passionate about improving the soil and increasing biodiversity – this is the direction which mainstream agriculture urgently needs to follow.”
Pete Ritchie, Executive Director of Nourish Scotland said “This is a dream opportunity to build on Wendy and Anne’s hard work, run a business with great prospects and do something you love. There’s never been a better time for local, organic and healthy food.”
