Hall Hunter Partnership, one of the UK’s largest soft fruit producers, has officially launched its 2026 blueberry season, with the business forecasting its largest harvest to date amid continued growth in consumer demand for British-grown blueberries.
The company, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, has expanded blueberry production significantly since entering the category in 2007. Today, more than 200 hectares of blueberries are grown across eight farms in Surrey and Berkshire, supporting what has become the UK’s fastest-growing fruit category.
Hall Hunter currently produces more than 40% of the UK’s blueberry crop and continues to invest in long-term expansion plans to meet rising market demand. However, with new blueberry plantings typically taking around five years to reach full production, increasing supply remains a gradual process.
Consumer appetite for blueberries shows little sign of slowing. Demand is estimated to be growing by around 20% annually, while Lidl recently reported a more than 200% increase in sales of British blueberries over the past three years.
Several market trends are contributing to the category’s growth. As consumers become increasingly mindful of ultra-processed foods, demand for natural, single-ingredient snacks has strengthened. Blueberries also continue to benefit from their convenience, offering a healthy option that requires minimal preparation.
Support for British agriculture is also influencing purchasing decisions. According to Red Tractor research, nine in ten UK consumers want to see more food produced domestically, while The Grocer’s 2025 trend report found that 68% of shoppers buy British produce when available and 70% actively seek opportunities to support British farmers.
To support future growth, Hall Hunter has made a series of investments across its blueberry operations over the past year. These include the acquisition of two additional Harvy 500 harvesting machines, which can harvest up to 500kg of fruit per hour, compared with approximately 10kg per hour through manual picking. The business has also expanded its use of Elifab AI grading technology to enhance consistency and quality throughout the packing process.
Further investment has been made in crop protection systems, including trained falcons and laser bird-control technology designed to reduce crop losses while avoiding harm to wildlife.
“Our British Blueberries are looking fantastic this year, we are really happy with the development of the crop, especially with newer varieties that have bigger, firmer and sweeter berries,” said Jim Floor, Managing Director. “It is a long term plan, but we are pleased with our progress and are looking forward to a successful 2026 season.”
With demand for British blueberries continuing to rise, Hall Hunter is positioning itself to support category growth through ongoing investment in production capacity, technology, genetics and sustainable farming practices, reinforcing its role as a leading supplier to the UK fresh produce market.
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