L V Ward Est. 1952

History

A family business for three generations.

United Fruit Shippers became L V Ward — and the Ward family has owned and run the company ever since. A little about our origins.

  1. 1952

    L V Ward (Farm Produce) Limited is founded by Leonard Victor Ward and his son, Donald, operating from the Old Covent Garden site. Within a few years they are joined by Donald's brother, Clive.

  2. 1972

    The company relocates to New Covent Garden at Nine Elms when the modernised market opens.

  3. 1982

    Donald's son, Mark, joins the company — the third generation of the Ward family in the business.

  4. 1989

    Clive's nephew, Robert Maguire, comes to L V Ward after five years working within the wholesale markets.

  5. 1991

    A second branch opens in the New Spitalfields Market. Following the success of that venture, the entire company relocates to larger premises at that site in the early nineties.

  6. 1996 & 1998

    Donald and Clive remain in active management until their respective retirements, having led the company for more than four decades.

  7. Today

    The company is owned and run by Donald's son, Mark, and Clive's nephew, Robert, and is now based in Sandy, Bedfordshire — close to many of our major production areas.

Seventy years on, quality is still everything.

See what we supply today.

Our products