Former store chain chief backs online food venture

Ripon-based Farmison.com supplies British produce from more than 75 farms, which are favoured by top restaurants.

The company is the brainchild of former restaurateur John Pallagi and former marketing executive Lee Simmonds.

Mr Bond is the primary investor in Farmison.com, through his investment vehicle, Woodcliffe Associates. He set up the investment company with fellow former Asda colleague Matt Harrison.

Mr Bond, who stood down from the UK’s second-biggest supermarket last year, has since taken on a number of roles, including chairing online bike retailer Wiggle.

Mr Simmonds said: “We are excited to be offering consumers an unbeatable choice of rare and superior British produce through farmison.com.

“We have harnessed the traditionally exclusive restaurant supply chain, championing independent UK farmers and producers to provide passionate foodies with a huge range of fantastic products.”

The company’s name is short for “farm produce is online”, and it hopes to challenge other online grocery retailers such as Ocado.

Its suppliers include 31 butchery farms offering 23 different breeds, more than 30 fruit and vegetable growers, and access to more than 50 British cheeses.

It sells ingredients used by restaurants including Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck, Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons and the Yorke Arms in Pateley Bridge, near Harrogate.

Frances Atkins, co-owner of the Yorke Arms, said: “Diners will delight in knowing that they can get hold of unusual and exciting ingredients from the farmers and producers that top chefs and restaurants have always championed.”

The website also features seasonal recipes from some of the UK’s top chefs.

Celebrity chef Mark Hix said: “Our team in the kitchen are constantly scouring the countryside and coastlines or the best ingredients – it’s fantastic that farmison.com foodies can now get hold of the best British produce to master in their own kitchens.”

Woodcliffe Associates has also invested in Republic, the Leeds-based fashion retailer, and Euro Garages, the Blackburn-based forecourt operator, but Mr Bond declines to say how much money he has injected.

Mr Bond decided to turn his back on big corporate life in order to focus on a handful of small to medium-sized businesses.

“I wanted the freedom to do things outside work – to ride my bike, spend time with the family and help my children with their homework,” he said earlier this year.

[email protected]