Fresh Awards Winner A.H. Worth Brings Red Kale To Tesco
A.H. Worth is continuing its focus on innovation and workforce development, with the launch of its red kale at Tesco coinciding with recognition for its employee engagement programme at last week’s FPC Fresh Awards 2026.
The Lincolnshire vegetable grower has returned its red kale to Tesco shelves following a successful trial last year in a bid to inspire shoppers to explore the brassica category.
The premium variety is now available exclusively under the Tesco Finest label in 257 stores nationwide as well as online, giving the retailer’s leafy brassica fixture a new colour and flavour proposition.
“For us, this marks an important step forward for this new variety and reflects the role innovation can play within a established category,” A.H. Worth said on LinkedIn.
“With its striking purple-red leaves, slightly sweeter flavour and strong versatility in recipes, red kale offers shoppers something distinctive alongside familiar leafy brassicas.”
Red kale leaves retain their shape during cooking, while providing vitamins K, A, and C, calcium, folate, fibre and antioxidants.
The red variety offers the same nutritional benefits as green kale, and a slightly sweeter and more delicate taste, according to the product listing on Tesco.
Tesco noted that the red kale is “expertly chosen for its deep, earthy flavour and subtle sweet undertone”, and makes a “delicious and nutritious addition” to complement any dish.
Matt Walton, managing director – Fosdyke & Farms Group at A.H. Worth, reportedly said the launch reflected the company’s experience in leafy brassicas and its approach to category development, according to HortNews.
“We’ve built considerable expertise in leafy brassicas over many years, and we’re always looking at how we can use that knowledge to bring something new and relevant to the fixture,” Walton explained.
“Red kale does exactly that, helping to inspire shoppers while bringing something genuinely different to the category.”
The launch on 28 September is the latest development in A.H. Worth’s long-standing relationship with Tesco, with the grower positioning the red variety as a way of encouraging shoppers to explore the brassica category.
FPC Fresh Awards 2026 Winner
The family-owned business, which spans four generations, has also been recognised for its approach to its workforce, winning HR Initiative of the Year at the FPC Fresh Awards 2026.
The award was presented for A.H. Worth’s Belonging @ Worths platform, which celebrates the heritage of a workforce spanning 14 nationalities through food, storytelling, quizzes, and shared experiences.
The initiative brings together employees across farms, offices, and operational teams, including colleagues working different shift patterns, and is designed to provide opportunities to share cultures and experiences while building connections across the business.
A.H. Worth was shortlisted in five categories in total at the FPC Fresh Awards 2026, including Manager of the Year, Team of the Year, Supermarket Fruit & Veg Supplier of the Year, and International Supplier of the Year.
For the grower, the two developments underline a broader focus on both category innovation and the people supporting its production and supply operations.
View the FPC Fresh Awards 2026 Winners' Brochure here.
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