Who We Are
A.G. Axton & Sons is a family run fruit and vegetable wholesaler. Established in Southampton more than 100 years ago. Our story began when Mr. Axton started ripening bananas in a disused bakery cellar and selling them to local shops by horse and cart. Over the decades, by successive generations the business has evolved from a small local delivery service to a fresh fruit, vegetable and dairy wholesale supplier to hospitals, care homes, education, restaurants, public houses and home deliveries.
Our depot is based in rural Swanmore not far from our roots and is in the capable hands of the fourth generation Axtons, Georgina and Austyn who still uphold the values established from our beginnings:
Honestly sourcing local and imported quality produce from growers with integrity and delivering this produce diligently to our customers big and small.
The current custodians Georgina and Austyn have grown up in and around the business and fresh produce is ‘in their blood’ they are both passionate about sourcing the best quality produce and are deeply committed to supporting local growers and delivering exceptional value to our customers. Their passion for fresh, high-quality produce and strong community ties continue to drive us forward, just as they have for generations.
What We Do
Georgina and Austyn are fully committed to following the established family practices supporting and sourcing from local growers wherever possible when their produce is in season. For example, we source all our lettuce from a local grower situated 30 minutes from our Swanmore depot, our peppers are grown 45 minutes from our doorstep, and our New Forest strawberries are grown less than an hour away. By purchasing directly from local growers, this not only supports local businesses, but also allows us to reduce food miles as we are able to collect the produce and back haul it to our distribution centre. This way of working also allows us to pass on savings on to the consumer as we keep the supply chain as short as possible.
We work closely with a wide range of clients, from NHS trusts and schools to care homes, universities, hotels, and festival caterers. No matter the size of the order, every delivery is handled with the same care and attention that has kept our family business thriving for generations.
AG Axtons to consistently meet and exceed the customer’s requirements. Our Management and sales team are knowledgeable and fully conversant in advising on seasonal product choice, delivery times, pack sizes, locally sourced items, ordering quantities for menus and availability of non-stocked products. We aim to support all new and existing customers with regular contact to ensure that our team is delivering the expected level of quality and service.
Grade 'A' Quality
As the Souths leading supplier of locally grown produce, all our goods delivered are of the freshest quality possible. Each order is treated with the same level of professionalism and service. No matter what the volume, our fleet of temperature controlled transport enables us to deliver a friendly, convenient and reliable service.
Delivery & Logistics
The vehicle fleet consists of a purpose built, multi drop refrigerated vehicles of varying weights to suit the customer requirements, from 2 ton though to 26 ton, however the majority of the deliveries will be made using our recently renewed fleet of 3.5 ton vehicles such as Mercedes Sprinters and Ford Transits each one boasting high Co2 controls resulting in as low emissions as is possible. We are constantly monitoring developments in the electric vehicle sector so that we may incorporate electric vehicles into our fleet. At this moment in time, technology in this space has not developed significantly enough to allow us to use electric vehicles, but we remain hopeful that this technology will become available soon enough. The storage temperature of the vans are constantly monitored and temperatures recorded twice a day as per the general rules concerning the carriage of chilled foodstuffs, contained in EU Regulation 852/2004 and supplemented by the Food Hygiene Regulations. The vehicle fridges are calibrated annually.
Where possible we reduce our food miles by back hauling produce on our transport when passing through various growers in our distribution area of Hampshire, Dorset, Sussex, Surrey and Wiltshire. Journey times and distances are kept to a minimum by careful route planning and the vehicle fleet is constantly tracked by satellite navigation to minimise fuel costs thus reducing food miles and used as a management tool to review deliveries. Vehicles are regularly maintained and subject to daily safety and hygiene checks.
Sustainability
EcoVadis – A Globally Recognised Benchmark
Sustainability is no longer an aspiration for A.G. Axton & Sons (Wholesale) Limited – it is something we actively measure, assess and improve.
We are proud to have undertaken the EcoVadis sustainability assessment and to have been awarded the EcoVadis Committed Badge. EcoVadis is the world’s largest and most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings, assessing companies across environmental, labour & human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement criteria.
Completing the EcoVadis assessment represents an important milestone for our business. It provides independent verification of how we operate today, highlights where we are performing well, and gives us a clear framework for continuous improvement. Importantly, EcoVadis is widely recognised across global supply chains, giving our customers confidence that our sustainability claims are robust, transparent and externally assessed.
Our participation demonstrates a clear commitment to responsible trading and to embedding sustainability into the way we work, not just as a policy, but as a measurable, ongoing process.
Reducing Food Miles And Transport Impact
Journey times and distances are kept to a minimum through careful route planning, with our vehicle fleet continuously monitored using satellite navigation to minimise fuel use and emissions. Where possible, we actively reduce food miles by back-hauling produce when passing through growers across our distribution area of Hampshire, Dorset, Sussex, Surrey and Wiltshire. This approach allows us to maximise vehicle efficiency while supporting regional growers and reducing unnecessary transport movements.
Packaging Reduction And Waste Minimisation
Red Tractor Assurance
As one of the UK’s leading food assurance marks, the integrity of the Red Tractor Standards is fundamental to our operation. These standards have been developed and refined through consultation with experts from across the food supply chain, including scientists, academics and professionals in veterinary science, farming, food processing, retail, animal welfare, food safety and environmental protection. A.G. Axton & Sons supplies products that meet these rigorous standards, giving our customers confidence in the safety, traceability and responsible sourcing of the produce we deliver.
Looking Ahead
Our EcoVadis assessment provides a clear roadmap for continued improvement. Sustainability at A.G. Axton & Sons is not static – it is an evolving commitment that we will continue to measure, refine and strengthen as part of our long-term business strategy.
Customer Focus
An exceptional team that are fully trained in the customer’s requirements. They are very conversant in advising on seasonal product choice, delivery times, pack sizes, locally sourced items, ordering quantities for menus and availability of non stocked products. We aim to support any new customers with frequent visits for the first couple of deliveries to ensure that our team is delivering the expected level of quality and service.
Supporting Healthy School Meals
We are an active partner in the UK Government’s scheme which ensures that all children aged 4 – 7 have access to fresh fruit and vegetables in Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton, IOW, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
Clients
We provide expertly curated solutions for a wide range of industries. Get in touch to find out how we can support your business.
Portsmouth Grammar School
Greengrocers of Stockbridge
Ashford & St Peter NHS Foundation Trust
Hylands
The Waitrose Farm Leckford Estate
University of Southampton
Sustainability is no longer an aspiration for A.G. Axton & Sons (Wholesale) Limited – it is something we actively measure, assess and improve. We are proud to have undertaken the EcoVadis sustainability assessment and to have been awarded the EcoVadis Committed Badge. EcoVadis is the world’s largest and most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings, assessing companies across environmental, labour & human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement criteria.
ESPO is a public sector owned professional buying organisation (PBO), specialising in providing a wide range of goods and services to the public sector for over 40 years. A.G. Axtons & Sons were awarded onto their framework earlier in the year.
BRCGS Storage and Distribution is a globally recognised standard (GFSI benchmarked) ensuring the quality and safety of products during their storage and distribution throughout the supply chain. A.G. Axtons & Sons are BRCGS Storage and Distribution Certified.
A.G. Axtons & Sons are a member of the approved recycling scheme run by Valpak. Valpak is a leading provider of environmental compliance, data management, and recycling solutions in the UK.
Carbon Reduction Plan
At A.G. Axton & Sons, we are proud to be on a journey towards a sustainable future. We are committed to achieving Net Zero Emissions by 2050—an ambitious target that will not only benefit our business but also our customers, suppliers, and the wider community. Reducing our greenhouse gas emissions is a key priority, and we are taking actionable steps to drive meaningful change.