Barrow business celebrates four decades of serving customers

Pastures New Healthfoods, found on Scott Street, reached the milestone birthday on April 15, having opened its doors for the first time back in 1984.

The company has built up a reputation as one of the key players in the local vegetarian food trade having started life out as a whole-food veggie cafe.

Jill and Richard Holmes, who started the business back in 1984 (Image: Lucy Holmes)

Jill Holmes started the business with her husband Richard and has been spending the past weeks looking back on how it all started.

She said: "Richard and I were lucky enough to grow our business from scratch with great help from family and friends and staff.  

"It has been a privilege to serve many lovely customers, and work with wonderful staff.” 

Richard sadly died in 2013 but is still 'very fondly remembered' by customers, with his legacy living on in the family still running the business.

One of those people is Lucy Holmes, Jill and Richard's daughter, who described how great it has been to reminisce about old times.

"We are having such a lovely week celebrating our 40th birthday, looking back at old photos from the last four decades of Pastures New and how it’s grown," said Lucy.

"Our dad is always remembered and spoken about with such fondness and affection by customers and all the staff who worked with him over the years. 

"My sisters and I are very proud of them both and I am grateful I get to do a job I love, in a shop I love."

Lucy with sister Anna Myerscough (Image: Lucy Holmes)

Pastures New celebrated the birthday by giving out four hampers as prizes as a way of giving back to the customers who have supported the business for so many years.

"The health food trade is a great industry to be part of," Lucy added. 

"I want to say a big thank you to all our fabulous suppliers who have been very generous supporting us with goodie bags and hamper prizes."