Wherry & Sons Ltd was founded in 1806 by Edward Wherry and since those days trade has evolved and diversified considerably from its origins as Drapers and Grocers to the present-day Agri-Food business. We are still close to our original site in Bourne, Lincolnshire and remain a family owned company.

Many years of experience in marketing Pulses have now been complemented by the acquisition of the PBI-C Winter Bean portfolio, this includes all the current commercial varieties being grown in the UK.

Progressively the varieties; Banner, Bourdon, Punch, Striker, Target and Clipper have been successfully introduced and have served growers well. As they were introduced into the market each variety has offered agronomic and yield improvements to growers on an on going basis.

Following the purchase of this programme in 1999 Wherry & Sons Ltd have committed themselves towards a new approach by continuing the breeding, selection and marketing of new varieties which not only offer better agronomics and higher yields but also other attributes as well as more market options.

As a company who purely specialise in Pulse production for Seed and Human Consumption Wherry & Sons Ltd are uniquely placed in the market with full traceability from the initial plant breeding crosses, right through to supply into the food chain. Our closeness to the market enables us to evaluate the needs of users and consumers, therefore focusing the direction of our programme in a practical and commercial manner.

The management of our programme uses similar traditional breeding methods as used to create the varieties which are popular today. High grade maintenance of existing and established lines is carried out using a unique production method which requires highly skilled intensive labour. The resultant produce enables us to market new lines with the confidence that the performance, purity and vigour at the point of market introduction is of the highest quality.

OUR HISTORY IN BRIEF
Edward Wherry, as were his forebears, the proprietor of the village store at Edenham, near Bourne.

When it came on to the market in 1806 he purchased from John Gibson of Bourne the premises on both sides of North Street. The legal formalities for this transaction were carried out by Mr Worth – father of the world famous Paris Costumier.

These first premises were stocked with groceries and other goods in local demand. Business prospered and when Edward Wherry’s elder sons, William and Edward, left school they joined their father – the firm becoming Edward Wherry and Sons. To this retail business was added a wholesale side – which rapidly expanded. Often goods purchased came from London and Manchester to Bourne by water.

In 1856 Willliam’s son, William Robert Wherry, aged 15, entered the business as an an apprentice, 5 years later he took over the sole control of the grocery department, and of buying of the drapery with which he was connected for the following 17 years. He also developed the trade in seed and grain thereby laying the foundations of our present activities.

Under the direction of the same WR Wherry, who became a County Alderman and Justice of the Peace, the agricultural side of the business developed considerably, to such an extent that it was created into a separate concern trading under the title of WR Wherry & Co.

Contracts for root seeds were placed with local farmers on behalf of most of the leading seed houses. For 26 years WR Wherry & Co purchased the total white mustard seed requirements for Keen Robinson & Co., until the latters amalgamation with Messrs. Colman of Norwich.

For the storage of this seed the large waterside warehouse in Eastgate, Bourne was purchased, though sold in later years.

In North Road, Bourne, a windmill was operated, this had three pairs of stones, two for wheat and one for Barley. Of this former Bourne landmark only the stump now remains.

Ald. WR Wherry was possibly the first in this country to recognise the need in the food processing industry for a complete dried pea trading operation, and so in the winter of 1878-9 this side of our business started.

Peas were grown by our farmer customers and transported to Bourne where they were picked by local people in their own homes - Bourne original cottage industry. This situation continued until 1902, when the factory in Church Lane, Bourne was built. From here, in 1967, we moved to our present site in the Old Railway Station yard.

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