Brothers at Burgess Farms ‘pass the baton’ after decades of dedication to family business

One of the UK's longest-established vegetable growers and processors has announced a major milestone in its 127-year history.

The Burgess brothers - William, Andrew and Jason - have sold their majority equity stake to the management team and Chiltern Capital, marking the end of an era at Burgess Farms that began in 1898.

With sites across the East of England, including in Sutton Bridge and Houghton Estate, it has grown to become a cornerstone of British agriculture.

The current management team will continue running the business, supported by the introduction of Clive Sharpe, an industry veteran, as non-executive chair.

Under the stewardship of the Burgess family, the company has expanded its operations over several decades, embracing cutting-edge technology and building long-standing relationships with all the major UK supermarkets.

“After decades of dedication to the family business, we feel the time is right to pass the baton,” said William Burgess, one of the three brothers.

“We are incredibly proud of what we’ve built and deeply grateful to our loyal staff, customers, and suppliers. With the current, highly experienced management team, we know that the business will continue to flourish and innovate, whilst staying true to its values.

“We selected Chiltern Capital as the right backers to take the business forward, as they have a strong knowledge of, and passion for, UK sustainable agriculture and the financial firepower to invest in the business to take it to the next level.”

Burgess Farms CEO James Barker added: “We are grateful to William, Andrew and Jason Burgess for the leadership they have shown as the fourth generation of the family to run this business.

“The family name will live on, and the management team will ensure that we continue to supply the same excellent quality produce that our customers have grown to expect.

“This is an exciting new chapter in this great company’s long history”

Chiltern Capital partner David Butler added: “We are excited to partner with a business that combines a strong heritage with forward-looking ambition.

“Our focus will be on supporting the talented management team at Burgess Farms whilst seeking new opportunities for growth, efficiency, and offering strong environmental stewardship.”

The existing management team will remain in place and work closely with the new investors to ensure a smooth ownership transitions.