UK soft fruit growers' cooperative Berry Gardens Growers, formerly known as KG Growers, has announced what it describes as its "best-ever results", with UK producers turnover up from 130.5m (£111m) in 2008 to 143.5m (£122m) last year.

Total turnover for the year at the growers' group and its subsidiary marketing company, including UK and imported produce, also increased from 209.4m (£178m) in 2008 to 218.8m (£186m) in 2009.

In a statement, Berry Gardens' financial director, Nick Allen, said the company had achieved an "excellent financial result in a very tough trading climate", which had enabled it to build up group reserves from 8.5m (£7.3m) to 11.2m (£9.5m).

Speaking at the cooperative's recent annual general meeting, Berry Gardens' chairman Marion Regan said: "It is pleasing to announce a good set of results, showing that our business model is robust and we are collectively delivering what our customers want.

"We are delighted that this year's business with Driscoll's and Berry Gardens has gone so well and that our turnover of Driscoll's berries, whether home grown or imported, has grown significantly.

"Our Driscolls relationship goes from strength to strength and I predict very exciting new varieties coming from Carlos Fear's work at East Malling and hope that as many members of BG Growers as possible come to the Open Day on 14th June."

Steven Maxwell, Eurofruit Magazine