Key Takeaways
Place UK is a family-owned british food company and soft-fruit grower headquartered in Tunstead, Norfolk, with operations stretching back to the 1950s. The firm grows, packs, freezes, and distributes strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, cherries, and rhubarb from a single integrated estate.
The company supplies leading uk retailers including Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury's, M&S, and Co-op, maintaining long-term business relationships built on quality, traceability, and transparent communication.
Place UK's Norfolk site brings together different roles under one roof - from field operatives and agronomists to packhouse supervisors, engineers, and logistics coordinators - with around 120 permanent staff and up to 600 seasonal workers during peak harvest.
The company's vision centres on growing high-quality British fruit responsibly while supporting rural employment, reducing its carbon footprint, and investing in sustainability across its Norfolk farms.
The article covers what Place UK is, where it operates, how it runs its business, and what opportunities exist for trade partners and prospective employees in Norfolk.
Introduction to Place UK and Its Norfolk Location
Place UK is a family-founded agribusiness based at Church Farm, Tunstead, near Wroxham, in the heart of the Norfolk Broads. Formally established in the late 1950s, it has grown from a small farming operation into one of East Anglia's most significant soft-fruit growers and packers. Today, the Norfolk site combines orchards, polytunnel-grown berries, a modern packhouse, individually quick frozen processing lines, and large cold stores on a single integrated estate.
Norfolk is a popular destination in the United Kingdom for its natural beauty, but it is also home to serious agricultural industry. Tunstead itself sits roughly 10 miles north-east of Norwich, a city that features the medieval Norwich Cathedral and a city centre known for its independent boutiques and cafes. The Broads National Park - Britain's largest protected wetland - begins just minutes from the farm gate. Norfolk offers stunning coastlines and unique waterways, and this landscape shapes the character of the business that operates within it.
Here is a quick snapshot of Place UK's Norfolk presence:
Location: Tunstead, near Wroxham, Norfolk
Established: 1954 (family farming roots from 1926)
Core crops: Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, cherries, rhubarb
Facilities: Packhouse, IQF freezing tunnels, cold storage, polytunnels
Customers: Major UK supermarkets, food-service brands, manufacturers
History of Place UK in Norfolk
The story begins in 1926, when Frank Place, a WWI veteran, acquired Church Farm in Tunstead. By 1937 the farm was supplying premium fruit - Loyd George raspberries and Royal Sovereign strawberries - to Buckingham Palace and through London's Covent Garden market. The founder laid a foundation that successive generations would develop into a nationally significant operation.
In 1954, John Place (Frank's son) formally established R&JM Place Ltd. The company's mission at that stage was straightforward: supply jam, yoghurt, ice cream, and dessert manufacturers with consistent, high-quality British soft fruit. Through the 1970s and 1980s, the organisation expanded its acreage and added new varieties. By the 1990s, investment shifted toward packhouse infrastructure.
After 2000, Place UK accelerated its diversification. A principal place of business is where main trading occurs, and Tunstead became exactly that - the hub for fresh fruit, processing, and frozen products. In 2013 the company acquired phaseolus ltd, broadening its range into frozen beans, pulses, pasta, and rice. A £1 million packhouse was built in 2017 to streamline how fruit moves from field to packing. Today, the fourth generation - including Ben Place, retail business manager - continues to shape the firm's direction, with Tim Place serving as chairman. The ownership has remained within the family throughout, a point of pride for the organisation.
Place UK’s Operations and Facilities in Norfolk
The scale of Place UK's Norfolk estate is significant. The company manages around 342 hectares at Tunstead, of which approximately 114 hectares are dedicated to fruit crops: 32 hectares of strawberries, 25 hectares of raspberries, 13 hectares of blackberries, 10 hectares of cherries, and 34 hectares of rhubarb.
Annual harvest volumes reflect this scale. The farm produces roughly 1,500 tonnes of strawberries and over 300 tonnes of frozen rhubarb in recent years. The crop calendar runs from April through November for strawberries and raspberries, with blackberries from June to October and cherries concentrated in June and July. Forced rhubarb - grown in darkness from January - extends the season further.
The packhouse handles grading, weighing, quality control, and packing during peak season. Fruit that does not meet fresh-market specifications is not wasted - it is diverted into freezing, purees, or smoothie production, ensuring minimal loss. Processing facilities include two Starfrost IQF freezing tunnels capable of approximately 5 tonnes per hour of continuous freezing. These produce frozen fruits for ready to eat smoothie packs, ingredient lines, and retail bags.
Supporting infrastructure includes:
Cold-storage and blast-chill rooms for fresh fruit preservation
Reservoirs with a total capacity of around 350,000 m³ for rainwater harvesting
Computerised irrigation and polytunnel climate control systems accessible via mobile apps
Maintenance workshops and logistics coordination hubs
This integrated setup allows Place UK to operate as both a grower and a british food manufacturer, handling everything from planting to dispatch within a few miles.
People, Culture, and Different Roles at Place UK Norfolk
Place UK employs around 120 permanent staff year-round. During peak harvest months, the workforce swells to approximately 600, with about 75% of seasonal staff being returnees who worked the previous season. That retention rate says something about the working environment.
The job titles and different roles at the Norfolk site span the full breadth of a modern agribusiness. Field operatives pick and manage crops. Agronomists monitor soil health, pest pressures, and varietal performance. Packhouse supervisors coordinate grading and packing lines. Quality-assurance technicians verify that every punnet meets retailer specifications. Engineers maintain tunnels, cold stores, and processing equipment. Logistics coordinators manage inbound and outbound transport schedules. Administrative staff handle compliance, payroll, and planning.
A principal is often the owner or chief executive officer of a company. At Place UK, Tim Place holds the title of chairman, and his principal's role encompasses strategic oversight, while Ben Place manages the retail side of the business. Principals manage daily business operations and develop company strategies, and a principal influences major business decisions based on market research - in this instance, decisions about which varieties to plant, which processing lines to expand, and how to respond to shifting retailer demand.
For seasonal workers, the company provides on-site accommodation at its International Farm Camp, along with a canteen, gym, shop, and recreational facilities. Health and safety standards are strict, with BRC AA+ certification across the site and adherence to Sedex and SMETA ethical audit frameworks. Each person on site, regardless of position, is responsible for maintaining these standards.
Business Relationships and Customers
Place UK's Norfolk operation underpins long-term business relationships with every major UK supermarket - Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury's, M&S, and Co-op - as well as food-service clients and B2B processors. The company commonly supplies both fresh punnets under retailer private labels and frozen fruit for smoothie and ingredient lines. Principals are responsible for maintaining business relationships with clients, and at Place UK this means working collaboratively with buyer teams and technical staff at each retailer to meet strict specifications on flavour, shape, colour, and shelf life.
The company is a member of Berry Gardens, one of the uk's major soft-fruit marketing groups. Through this partnership and direct collaboration with breeders like Driscoll's, Place UK trials new strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry varieties - for instance, Katrina, Reyna, Maravilla, and Victoria - selected for robustness, yield, and consumer appeal. This kind of varietal development is not something every grower can achieve; it requires the scale, technical capability, and sustained investment that Place UK has displayed over decades.
Reliable forecasting, transparent communication, and year-on-year planning are central to how the organisation maintains trust. Surpluses are not necessarily lost - they are diverted into frozen or puree lines, which means retailers and manufacturers can account for consistent supply regardless of weather variability. The value of this approach lies in predictability: buyers know what they will receive, when, and to what standard. This is the difference between a transactional supplier and a genuine partner.
An overseas company must register its principal place of business in the UK, and Place UK's Tunstead site serves this function for any international trade activity, acting on behalf of the business in all formal dealings. VAT registration requires a principal place of business address, and HMRC sends VAT correspondence to the principal place of business - for Place UK, that address is Church Farm, Tunstead.
Place UK’s Vision, Sustainability, and Community in Norfolk
The company's vision is stated plainly: grow high-quality British fruit responsibly while supporting local employment and the Norfolk rural economy. Principals create and adjust the company's short-term and long-term goals, and at Place UK those goals encompass environmental performance, community investment, and commercial growth in equal measure.
Practical sustainability measures on the Norfolk site include:
Water management: Reservoirs totalling 350,000 m³ collect rainwater, much of it harvested directly from polytunnel roofs. Computerised irrigation systems minimise waste.
Soil health: Cover crops using legumes, mustards, and oats fix nitrogen and prevent nutrient leaching. Wildflower margins support pollinators and beneficial insects.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Nocturnal UV robotic machines are being trialled to control mildew in polytunnels without chemical inputs.
Energy: Solar PV installations cover a significant share of electrical demand. A ground-source heat pump feeds a 2.2-hectare greenhouse to extend the growing season, reducing the need for imported produce and cutting the company's carbon footprint.
Waste reduction: Surplus or off-grade fruit is diverted into frozen fruits, purees, or smoothie production rather than being discarded.
The firm is committed to certifications that reinforce trust: Soil Association organic accreditation, BRC AA+ food safety, and ethical supply-chain standards through Sedex. These are not just badges displayed on a page - they represent day-to-day operational discipline.
As one of the area's most significant seasonal employers, Place UK's importance to the Norfolk rural economy is considerable. The money invested in accommodation, facilities, and training for seasonal staff circulates through local communities. Likewise, the company participates in plant breeding programmes and agricultural R&D, contributing to wider industries beyond its own operations. Norfolk itself - with destinations ranging from the coast at Holkham and Wells-next-the-Sea, known for white sand beaches, to the Norfolk Coast Path offering over 90 miles of scenic walking routes - benefits from the economic stability that businesses like Place UK provide to the region.
Visiting or Working with Place UK in Norfolk
Place UK's principal place of business is its Norfolk site, where core management, farming operations, and packing are based. A limited partnership's principal place of business must be a physical address, and the same principle applies here: Church Farm, Tunstead is the real, tangible centre of the company's activity. A principal place of business is not publicly recorded by HMRC, but for trade purposes, the Tunstead address is the point of contact.
Here is how different parties typically engage with the site:
Trade partners and potential customers: Contact Place UK through its company website or dedicated commercial channels. Visits - including technical audits, customer site tours, and quality reviews - are arranged in advance and follow strict biosecurity and food-safety protocols.
Job applicants: Seasonal picking, packhouse work, and permanent positions in management, engineering, quality assurance, logistics, and administration are advertised through official recruitment channels. Interested candidates should check the company's careers page for current vacancies.
Auditors and certification bodies: BRC, Soil Association, Sedex, and retailer-specific audit visits are scheduled regularly and are a routine part of operations.
Prospective seasonal employees can expect a working calendar that runs from roughly April to November, with shift patterns in the packhouse adjusted to match harvest volumes. Returning workers - who make up about 75% of the seasonal team - often encounter opportunities for progression into supervisory or technical positions. The organisation invests in training, and different roles require different skills, but every person who joins can develop within the business structure over time.
For any investor, agent, or third party considering a relationship with Place UK, the Norfolk site is the place to start. The company does not necessarily operate as a public-facing farm shop or tourist attraction; it is a commercial fruit-growing and processing operation, and access is managed accordingly.
FAQ
Where exactly is Place UK located in Norfolk?
Place UK's main site is at Church Farm, Tunstead, a village approximately 10 miles north-east of Norwich and around 2.5 miles from Wroxham in the Norfolk Broads. The estate spans across surrounding farmland in the Tunstead and Sco-Ruston parish. Norwich - which features the medieval Norwich Cathedral and a vibrant city centre - is reachable in about 20 minutes by car. The A1151 and surrounding roads provide access from major routes. In the broader context of Norfolk, the site sits in a county celebrated for its heritage: Wymondham features a historic abbey and market cross, Snetterton Circuit is a popular venue for motor racing in South Norfolk, and Great Yarmouth is known for traditional seaside activities.
What does Place UK grow and pack at its Norfolk site?
The core crops are strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, cherries, and rhubarb (both traditional and forced varieties). Specific cultivars include Driscoll's Katrina, Reyna, Maravilla, Victoria, and Clara for berries, and Stockbridge, Timperley Early, Goliath, and Livingston for rhubarb. The mix evolves as the company trials new varieties for yield, flavour, and shelf life. Beyond fresh fruit, the processing division handles frozen fruit, pulses, beans, pasta, and rice - offerings that expanded significantly after the acquisition of Phaseolus Ltd in 2013. This makes Place UK both a grower and a multi-category food processing firm.
Is Place UK’s Norfolk site open to the public?
No. Place UK operates as a commercial farm and packing site, so it is not open for casual public visits. Access is limited to employees, contractors, invited trade partners, and auditors for food-safety and biosecurity reasons. Any open days or recruitment events are publicised in advance through the company's official channels and must follow site safety rules. If you are looking to visit Norfolk for leisure, the county has plenty to offer - from the Broads National Park to the white sand beaches at Holkham and Wells-next-the-Sea.
What kinds of jobs are available at Place UK in Norfolk?
Roles range from seasonal field picking and packhouse work to permanent positions across management, engineering, quality assurance, logistics, and administration. The company values returning seasonal workers, many of whom progress into supervisory roles over successive seasons. Whether a person is looking for a short-term seasonal role or a long-term career in agribusiness, the company's recruitment page is the best place to refer to for current vacancies and application details. The president of operations, senior managers, and team leaders all play a part in ensuring new staff are properly trained and supported.
How does Place UK support sustainability on its Norfolk farms?
The company takes a practical approach: careful water use through reservoir-fed irrigation, soil health monitoring with cover crops, responsible pesticide use via IPM, and investment in solar energy and heat-pump technology. These solutions reduce waste, protect local ecosystems in england, and support long-term land productivity. Sustainability at Place UK is not a marketing exercise - it is woven into how the company grows fruit, manages its estate, and plans for future seasons, helping it achieve the company's mission of responsible British farming that endures across generations.
