Wightlink has signed up Isle of Wight family businesses Grace’s Bakery and Briddlesford Farm Dairy to supply bread and milk to its ferries and terminals.
The new partnership means that everything on sale at Wightlink’s Wight Taste shops now comes from Island producers and suppliers.
Milk from Briddlesford Farm Dairy’s pedigree herd of 150 Guernseys is delivered regularly to Fishbourne, Yarmouth and Ryde Pier. Farmer Charles Griffin brought the first 15 cows to the Island in 1923 and the dairy now produces 2,000 litres of milk a day as well as butter, cheese and cream.
Charles’ great grandson Paul Griffin says:
“Customers are increasingly interested in where their food comes from. We reckon, from cow to cup, our milk travels less than three miles to Wightlink’s café in Fishbourne. Milk from our Guernsey cows is full of goodness with more vitamin D, vitamin A, protein and calcium than ordinary milk.”
Grace’s Bakery was founded by Ray Redrup in 1997. Staff work through the night at the bakehouse in Ryde to produce bread, cakes and other tasty treats for 5 shops, as well as Wightlink. The branch close to Wightlink’s Yarmouth terminal is already very popular with ferry customers and staff.
David Redrup, Sales Director for Grace’s says:
“Our customers tell us there’s no substitute for fresh bread and we pride ourselves on the quality of our products.
Article continues below this advertisement “We are delighted to sell our loaves to Islanders on board as well as introducing ourselves to visitors arriving on Wightlink’s ships and through its ports.”
Wightlink’s Wight Taste shops were launched 12 months ago to sell a wide variety of top quality food produced or supplied by Island companies. The range includes Calbourne Classics cakes, Island Roasted coffee, local ales, goods from The Garlic Farm and Wight Crystal water.
Wightlink’s Operations Director, Daryl Palmer, has said:
“We are thrilled to announce that everything on sale at Wight Taste now comes from the Isle of Wight. Customers enjoy sampling the best from the Island on our ferries and I always buy supplies when I am on board.”
