For Charlie, farming has always been a way of life with three generations of his family running Perry Court Farm in Kent and yet, when he went to study Agriculture at University nobody envisaged that he would start his own company straight from his student digs!
Perry Court Farm is renowned for its impeccable apple orchards with hundreds of thousands of apples being sold across the country each year but Charlie felt that so much more could be done with the fruit. He wanted to make a breakthrough in the market and create a snack that appealed to all generations that could be viewed as both a treat and a health product and the result was the delicious Apple Crisps.
After conducting a large amount of research into fruit snack products Charlie realized that everything on the market had either been fried or imported into the UK. The only country that used their own produce to make the crisps in a healthy manner was the USA who use environmentally friendly drying machines. This was the answer that Charlie was looking for, so after selling his student house he flew out to the states and invested in a drying machine to install in Perry Court Farm.
Now one year on Charlie is one of the youngest MD’s in the country and with a fully functioning factory his company Apple Crisps is thriving. Over 50,000 bags have been sold in 37 high end outlets and farmers markets across the south east. It is also rumored that Apple Crisps has many a celebrity fan including Thandie Newton, Lilly Allen, Jamie Callum, Sophie Dahl and cricketer Alastair Cook to name but a few.
Charlie commented: “I am delighted that Apple Crisps has taken off, it is the only known company within the UK that actually home grows, hand picks and produces dried fruit in an environmentally friendly manner.”
He continued: “My dream would be to see Apple Crisps become even bigger in years to come with more and more people exchanging their usual fried brand for my dried, healthier alternative. With our country becoming more weight conscious by the minute that’s certainly not beyond the realms of possibility. I am currently working on a new range of fruit including cherry and strawberry crisps as id like to extend the current offering.”
Apple Crisps are available in the following outlets:
Perry Court Farm Shop in Kent, Tulley’s Farm Shop in West Sussex, Godstone Farm Shop in Surrey, Calcott Hall Farm Shop in Essex, Chegworth Farm Shop in London, Broadditch Farm Shop in Kent, Fanny’s Farm Shop in Surrey, Macnades Fine Foods in Faversham, Secretts stores in Surrey & Sussex, The Barnyard in Sittingbourne, La Fromagerie in Marylebone and Laithebarn in Romney Marsh and Haguelands Farm Shop in Kent.
