Our History
Kenyans and Ethiopians can do anything as well as anyone on the world stage
Founding of Homegrown in Kenya
The seeds of our business were first planted back in 1982 in Kenya. Fuelled by our founder Sir Richard ‘Dicky’ Evans’ belief that Kenyans could do anything as well as anyone on the world stage, Homegrown was founded on the recognition that small-scale courgette, bean and chilli growers were not receiving fair value through traditional wholesale routes to UK supermarkets. Determined to reward growers properly, Dicky pursued a more direct connection to market.
Pioneering Cold-Chain Innovation
In 1985, long before modern cold-chain practices became standard, Dicky boldly installed a refrigerated sea-freight container in his own garden to store produce before export, overcoming the lack of airport cold storage in Kenya. This early direct-to-market approach preserved quality, reduced waste and ensured growers received a fair price.
Innovations in Sustainable Farming
Driven by Dicky’s values-led leadership, our Kenyan teams pioneered innovations that reshaped farming practice. These included advanced water capture and irrigation systems capable of sustaining crops for up to four months without rainfall, Africa’s first integrated pest management business helping accelerate non-chemical pest control, and early investment in on-site solar energy generation.
Supporting Growing Communities
Doing the right thing for growing communities was always central. This meant fair pay for fair work, leadership in the safe use of pesticides, machinery and protective equipment, and providing practical, everyday support to farming families.
Establishment of Sher Ethiopia
In 2005, in Ethiopia’s village of Ziway, the Barnhoorn family created the country’s first rose farm, Sher Ethiopia. Their vision was to match farming investment with support for the surrounding community, committing to add a hospital or school room for every greenhouse built.
Global Leadership in Roses
Flamingo Horticulture and Sher Ethiopia together have become the world’s leading grower of Fairtrade roses, shipping an extraordinary 4 million roses every day while remaining deeply committed to fair practices, community progress, and sustainable innovation.
