A Brief History of Who We Are

We are a family business based in Suffolk and have been involved in the food industry since 1968.

David and Diane Gilbert, with son Stacey and daughter Victoria, were originally manufacturers of fine foods supplying supermarkets and other multiples. Since the mid 1990s we realised that the business was too risky with the supermarkets appearing too strong and too unpredictable.

In 1998 we were asked to attend farmers markets and have been doing them ever since. We found the direct nature of the producer to buyer relationship refreshing as we could finally talk directly to our customers. The markets quickly built up to over 400 venues a year.

In 2001 we moved our production and family from Kent to Suffolk to “get away from the M25” and took our produce to the farmers markets of East Anglia and Essex. The original family team were joined by daughter in law Tracy and son in law Jason and added chief product tasters grandchildren Thomas, Harry, Joe and Maisie.

April 2003 saw us showcasing our product range with other East Anglian food from similar small producers at Elveden near Thetford. The Food Hall allowed us to have a permanent base and the Bistro gave us a first opportunity to venture into the restaurant side of the food business.

After meeting the new team running the Museum of East Anglian Life in Stowmarket March 2005 saw us open our second bistro. The menu was once again based around our own farmer’s market products and local supply of raw materials. 2006 sees the opening of a Food Hall at Stowmarket next to the bistro.