Guy Singh-Watson Explained
Guy Singh-Watson (born Guy Watson,[1] [2] 1960)[3] is a British farmer and founder and creator of Riverford, an organic farm and UK-wide organic vegetable box delivery company.[4] [5]
Biography
Singh-Watson was born in Totnes. He was brought up on Riverford Farm, in Buckfastleigh, Devon, which was taken over by his family in the 1950s. After studying Agricultural and Forestry Science at the University of Oxford he became a management consultant, but left after working in New York City for a while.[3] [6]
In 1986 Singh-Watson returned to the farm, deciding to convert it to farming organically.[7] In the 1990s, to find an effective way of distributing his produce, he developed the weekly vegetable box scheme, which is delivered directly to customers' doors with locally grown produce. In 2015 the Riverford business was valued at £45 million.[6]
In 2018 Singh-Watson sold 76% of Riverford Organic Farmers to the trustee of an employee ownership trust.[8] [4] [5] [9] [10] In 2023 Singh-Watson agreed to sell his remaining 23% stake for almost £10m, making the firm 100% staff-owned. [11]
Singh-Watson lectures on ethical business[12] and is a judge for the Observer Ethical Awards[13] and his leadership has seen five previous Observer awards including Best Ethical Business [14] and Best Ethical Restaurant in 2009.[15]
Singh-Watson married Geetie Singh in 2014.[1] He is a keen surfboarder.[6] In July 2018 he was interviewed on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs programme.[16]
Publications
- Riverford Farm Cook Book: Tales from the Fields, Recipes from the Kitchen (2008) Singh-Watson, G. and Baxter, J. [17]
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: 2018-07-10. WG Watson and SE Singh (Baddaford Farm). www.triodos.co.uk.
- Web site: 2018-07-10. Guy Watson and Geetie Singh. tastebudsmagazine.co.uk.
- Web site: Profile: The Organic Farmer . Startup Donut . https://web.archive.org/web/20120105211621/http://www.startupdonut.co.uk/startup/start-up-business-ideas/types-of-business/profile-the-organic-farmer . 5 January 2012.
- News: Boudicca. Fox-Leonard. 2018-07-10. Guy Singh-Watson: Why I've handed over ownership of Riverford Organic to its staff. The Telegraph. 10 June 2018. 0307-1235. www.telegraph.co.uk.
- Web site: Sarah. Butler. 2018-07-10. Staff ownership ensures organic veg firm Riverford doesn’t forget its roots. 7 April 2018. The Guardian.
- News: Guy Watson interview: Veg nerd who thinks outside the box . Lambert . Victoria . Daily Telegraph . 21 March 2015 . 6 July 2018.
- News: Laura. Onita. 2018-07-10. Now I know my onions, middle England can feast on organic. The Sunday Times. 2 October 2016. 0956-1382. www.thetimes.co.uk.
- News: Staff ownership ensures organic veg firm Riverford doesn't forget its roots . Butler . Sarah . The Observer . 7 April 2018 . 14 May 2019.
- Web site: 2018-07-10. Triodos Bank provide financial support for Riverford employee ownership scheme. www.triodos.co.uk.
- News: 2018-07-10. Riverford owner Guy Singh-Watson places his veg box company into employee ownership. Devon Life.
- News: Butler . Sarah . 2023-05-19 . Veg box firm Riverford to be 100% staff-owned as founder sells stake for £10m . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-11-30 . 0261-3077.
- Web site: Guy Watson . Schumacher College . https://web.archive.org/web/20120506082947/http://www.schumachercollege.org.uk/teachers/guy-watson . 6 May 2012.
- Web site: Observer Ethical Awards 2011: judge Guy Watson. 7 February 2011. 12 October 2017. Theguardian.com.
- Web site: Sir David Attenborough honoured in Observer ethical awards. Lucy. Siegle. Adam. Vaughan. 3 June 2009. 12 October 2017. Theguardian.com.
- Web site: Food awards 2009: best ethical restaurant, Riverford Field Kitchen. 22 March 2009. 12 October 2017. Theguardian.com.
- News: Riverford's Guy Singh-Watson on Desert Island Discs: What we learnt . Booth . Richard . DevonLive . 3 July 2018 . 6 July 2018.
- Web site: Resurgence • Article - From Farm to Feast. Resurgence.org. 12 October 2017.
