"Globalisation" is not a word to cheer the hearts of many British growers, weary of cheap imports undercutting British plants. But one UK company that is staking its future on the growth of international trade is Bedfordshire-based Chessum Plants. Primarily a pot-rose grower, the firm took the plunge five years ago, and embarked on a long-term growth strategy based on overseas production and sales, combined with realignment at home. With turnover jumping from 3.9m in the past financial year to a projected 7m, the move is paying off. Chessum Plants remains a family firm -for now, at least. Founder Paul Chessum still oversees production at home and abroad while his wife Margaret is in charge of HR and credit control; step-son David White looks after sales, and step-daughter Karen Gill controls financial affairs and marketing. Gill says: "My parents were approaching retirement age, and there are not hordes of kids behind us. David and I had to decide: do we sell up, or do we make big plans now for how the business could grow?"
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