Leading South West Property Agents Bettesworths are delighted to confirm the sale of the South Devon Chilli Farm near Loddiswell, Kingsbridge in the South Hams. This unique and highly successful business was sold of a freehold guide price of £1.250 to £1.5m.
The South Devon Chilli Farm is a very well-established West Country business, having grown to a significant level of turnover and profit with a strong, recognisable brand, well known throughout the UK and Europe. Established in 2001, having grown from a hobby to a serious business with a significant turnover and employing 9 members of staff, the business combines full time growing, manufacturing and retailing with a thriving online and wholesale trade, supplemented by sales from the onsite farm shop and cafe.
The limited company was formed in 2004 when the business moved to the current site. A production kitchen and warehouse/storage facility was built and 6 polytunnels introduced. In 2011, the barn was extended to provide the current farm shop and café, introducing another dimension to the business which has been extremely successful. In 2014, another 2 polytunnels were added to the main site. The business sits on an 10 acre site in beautiful rolling South Devon countryside.
The business has a very strong online presence, with an extensive range of goods from chilli seeds, plants and seedling, to fresh chillies, chilli sauces, preserves, dried chillies, chilli chocolate and growing equipment. This huge range of product is easy to order via the excellent website and sent the next working day. Testimonials are incredibly strong and the business benefits from a wide customer base and a very good repeat customer trade. The Chilli Farm also sells to the wholesale trade, which makes up a significant percentage of overall revenue, with more and more outlets looking to sell the award-winning products.
The Chilli Farm has been developed over recent years and is now a visitor attraction in itself. The advent of the farm shop and cafe has brought thousands of visitors a month to the site, all enjoying a great visitor attraction experience.
The business attends several food and drink festivals throughout the year, particularly around the South West of England, including the great Dorset Chilli Festival, The West Dean Chilli Festival, The Salcombe Crab Fest, Exeter Food and Drink Festival and the River Cottage Spring Food Fare, amongst others. The business has won many accolades and awards over the years including ones from Great Taste, Taste of the West and Food & Drink Devon. The South Devon Chilli Farm is also seen as a centre of excellence for growing chilies and manufacturing chilli-based products. The business has been featured on many nationwide television programs, magazines and newspapers.
A spicy new chapter for the farm!
After 20 years spent experimenting with chillies and growing the farm into the wonderful business it is today, Steve, Heather Martin and Kaz have taken their well-earned retirement. The farm has been passed into the capable hands of Amrit and Jenny Madhoo – long time lovers of chillies and passionate about the South Devon Chilli Farm for many years.
Amrit and Jenny are thrilled to join all the existing staff, getting stuck into learning the ins and outs of the business – nothing to sweat over though as Amrit and Jenny have always been avid gardeners, and love all things chilli (no problem with taste-testing there!).
Jenny has family connections in Devon, whereas Amrit hails from the Caribbean Islands of Trinidad & Tobago, where chilli is a common cooking ingredient and they certainly love their heat.
The farm is now at the start of a really exciting new stage in its growth. Amrit and Jenny are looking forward to continuing with the tried and tested classic South Devon Chilli Farm recipes as well as, in time, coming up with their own new flavours and varieties too.
Matt Bettesworth who handled the sale commented ‘We were delighted to be instructed to sell the South Devon Chilli Farm – a rather unique opportunity that Bettesworths were able to place in the market given our multi property sector expertise. After a brief marketing campaign we agreed a sale to Amrit and Jenny and the rest is history. We of course wish them every success with their new venture and also to our clients for a happy and well deserved retirement.”
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