Loves

It all started back in 1913 when Mr Ernest Love set up a village shop in Stechford. The shop was a huge success and built up a fantastic reputation over the years until Ernest retired just after World War 11. Jack Waldron took the shop on and built the business up by winning a number of hotel orders. This forms the basis of the modern Loves.

The shop was bought in 1961 by Bill Sumner and his son (another Bill) who were determined to build on Jack’s success. The Bills’ soon opened more shops and the hotel orders increased. The business went from strength-to-strength and in the late sixties Bill Sumner Senior retired leaving the business in the capable hands of Bill Sumner Junior. It was at this time that the decision was made to concentrate on the catering customers and all the shops were sold apart from the original Stechford site.

For many years Loves continued to operate from a lock-up at the back of the shop. In 1972 Loves moved to a new warehouse in Stechford which allowed for further expansion. From here Loves became known as a market leader whose “famous” black and yellow vans became almost as synonymous to Birmingham as the Bull Ring.

By 1975, Loves was meeting the challenges set by chefs to source exotic fruits and previously unheard of lettuces, including the now common Iceberg.

In 1994 the mantle passed to William Sumner who became the Managing Director of Loves Plc. Now in it’s third generation, Loves retains close family ties to the business enabling it to move forward without losing the values upon which the company was founded.

Today, Loves employs 50 people and is currently serving many of the leading hotels, restaurants, gastro eateries and catering establishments throughout the Midlands. It continues to expand as William Sumner firmly believes in investing in the future of the company and the people within it, thus ensuring our customers continue to receive the highest quality in both products and service.