Isle Of Wight Tomatoes Receives Marks & Spencer Grower Of The Year Award
Isle of Wight Tomatoes has been recognised as Grower of the Year by Marks & Spencer (M&S), marking a significant achievement for the island-based producer and celebrating a long-standing grower-retailer partnership that continues to go from strength to strength.
Expressing his pride in receiving the award, company managing director Paul Thomas highlighted the strong relationship developed with M&S and the shared ambition that has driven the partnership forward.
“2026 has been an incredible year for Isle of Wight Tomatoes,” Thomas revealed in a LinkedIn post reported by Hortidaily.
“Our journey with M&S has been built on a shared belief in what we could achieve together, a willingness to challenge convention and the ambition to create something genuinely different.”
Looking back on the company’s progress, Thomas said there have been “so many amazing milestones” achieved during a relatively short period.
“It’s been a remarkable journey, and one that we’re only just beginning,” he commented.
Thomas also acknowledged the contribution of Liz Van Niekerk, Heather Chapman, Lydia Aaron, Matt Buckingham, Jonathan Lock, David Seymour, and the wider M&S team.
Thomas thanked M&S for supporting his vision, sharing the company’s ambitions, and helping to turn their business plans into reality.
“That belief and partnership have been instrumental in everything we've achieved together,” he said.
M&S Head of Trade Produce, Floral and Gifting, Van Niekerk described Thomas as an “incredible [and] visionary” grower on LinkedIn, adding that the grower-retailer partnership is only just getting started with a bright future ahead.
Thomas emphasised that the award also reflects the dedication of the Isle of Wight Tomatoes workforce, and recognised the enthusiasm and commitment of everyone involved in developing the business.
“This award belongs to all of them,” he enthused.
Concluding his comments, Thomas said he was delighted with what the two businesses had accomplished through their collaboration and looked forward to the next stage of their journey.
Delivering Stand-Out Flavour
Grown on the vine for longer thanks to additional sunshine hours on the island, Isle of Wight Tomatoes have more time to develop their distinctive flavour and succulent texture.
“The extra light and long sunshine hours we enjoy on the Isle of Wight mean we can bring out the best flavour in every variety we grow,” Thomas told The Telegraph earlier this year.
This summer M&S stocked 14 exclusive varieties from Isle of Wight Tomatoes, with the new co-branded range offering a diverse selection of colours, textures, and flavour profiles that included: striped Tiger, pink Oishi, and a Summer Selection medley.
Isle of Wight Tomatoes are a firm favourite with Tom Kerridge, professional chef and M&S’s Farm to Foodhall ambassador.
“From the bold, umami-rich Pink Oishi to the sweet, traffic-light-coloured Summer Selection, they really are a chef’s dream,” Kerridge explained.
“Whether you simmer them in a slow-cooked sauce, bake them in a tart or just pile them onto crusty bread with a drizzle of good olive oil, you can taste the island’s sunshine – and the proper passion of the people who grow them – in every mouthful.”
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