During the depression of the 1930s the founder of the company, Ronald S. Cockerill, began farming a rented plot of land to grow carrots, later expanding with the acquisition of a farm tenancy near York.

Potato and carrot trading operations developed alongside farming activities, and became the mainstay of the business following our role in the Dig for Britain war campaign, distributing farm produce to those in greatest need.

Martin Cockerill, the present Chairman and son of the founder, joined the company in 1967 and over the following years developed an aerial crop spraying service and a prepack business serving retail multiples and the foodservice industry. The company started supplying processing potatoes on contract to Tudor Crisps, later becoming Smiths Crisps and then Walkers who are still a major customer.