Suppliers Robert Hunter & Son bid farewell to Chester Zoo

Oct 14 2010 Chester Chronicle

AFTER more than 50 years of receiving 11,000 lettuces each year, Chester Zoo has bid a sad farewell to supplier Richard Hunter as he begins his retirement.

Richard Hunter of Robert Hunter & Son, Liverpool, took over the business from his father in the late 1950s and has provided lettuces to the zoo, twice a week for 52 years, initially from his stall at the Liverpool market.

The 76-year-old said:“These years have been wonderful and it’s been a pleasure to provide the charity with much needed food for their animals.”

Anthony Hutchinson, animal supplies manager at the zoo, added: “Business like this works superbly – long-term loyal contracts that benefit both parties. We shall be sad to see Richard retire but we cannot thank him enough for the quality produce he has given us over the years.”

The zoo provides 350 different lines of foodstuffs for its 7,000 animals, including 250 tonnes of fruit and vegetables, eight tonnes of meat, 20 tonnes of fish, three million crickets and one tonne of mealworms.

Richard Hunter also supplied the zoo with celery, tomatoes, spinach and winter cabbage.