Pumpkins aplenty as James Hall & Co. Ltd supports Lancashire growers T&E Forshaw ahead of Halloween

There’s been some ghoulish goings on at Lancashire suppliers T&E Forshaw as pumpkins grown on the family farm in Tarleton have ghosted onto the shelves of James Hall & Co. Ltd supplied SPAR stores this week.

James Hall & Co. Ltd plumped for T&E Forshaw to be its main pumpkin supplier for Halloween for a third consecutive year after two successful seasons of pumpkin sales in SPAR stores across the North of England.

This year, T&E Forshaw will supply six times the number of pumpkins for James Hall & Co. Ltd supplied SPAR stores than when they started in 2019 – the result of a thriving two-way relationship.

New varieties included in the 2022 offer in SPAR stores include the Munchkin priced at £1.35 with excellent natural variation of colour and skin texture.

Fantastic looking white Ghost pumpkins are also a new line priced at £2.75, and these are complemented by a jumbo XXL variety that are being trialled in a select number of stores at £6.50.

The standard orange pumpkin is also available at £2.35, or on a deal with a well-equipped carving kit priced at £6.

T&E Forshaw have been growing plants and produce since 1899, and prior to the recent development of pumpkin lines, have a long-standing relationship with James Hall & Co. Ltd for supplying salad products.

Wilf Whittle, Fresh Trading Manager at James Hall & Co. Ltd, said: “We’re really pleased to develop our partnership with T&E Forshaw and this year’s pumpkins look the best yet.

“The pumpkins have created some superb theatre in our SPAR stores. Competitively priced for our valued customers, they are a brilliant addition to a doorstep or a dinner plate.

“It isn’t just a transactional relationship we share with the Forshaw family – we have worked alongside them at all stages of the growing cycle from planning volumes and varieties through to support around sowing, planting, and the harvest periods.

“The Forshaw team have been open to embracing ideas and suggestions, and we look forward to continuing our partnership in the years ahead.”

Harry Forshaw, of T&E Forshaw, said: “We’re thrilled with the results of the pumpkin lines since we began growing them in 2019 and supplying them to James Hall & Co. Ltd.

“The harvest this year really has produced a high grade of pumpkin despite growing and production challenges, with vibrant colours across all varieties, and I’m sure they will be popular with SPAR customers.

“Wilf and the team at James Hall are a pleasure to work with and the growth in demand for high-quality pumpkins in SPAR stores is great for both of our businesses.”

James Hall & Co. Ltd is SPAR UK’s primary wholesaler and distributor for the North of England. The company serves a network of 600 independent SPAR retailers and company owned SPAR stores six days a week from its base in Preston, Lancashire.

You can find out more about James Hall & Co. Ltd at www.jameshall.co.uk.