Over 100 years at Wade Lane Farm
Nestled in the Trent Valley near Rugeley, Staffordshire, Wade Lane Farm has been home to the Froggatt family since 1922. More than 100 years and four generations later, it's still very much a family affair.
Today, Anthony Froggatt runs the farm alongside his wife Becky, with his parents Richard and Sue, sister Sarah, and the next generation — Kitty, Francesca and Johnny — all involved in different aspects of the farm and businesses.
Farming has changed enormously over the last century, but our roots remain firmly in Staffordshire. Today, we grow a range of crops, including wheat, oilseed rape and potatoes, alongside keeping a small flock of Welsh Mule sheep.
The story of Just Oil
The story of Just Oil began following one of the most difficult periods in our farm's history. During the devastating Foot and Mouth outbreak in 2001, we lost our entire sheep flock, prompting Anthony to explore ways to diversify and build a more resilient future for the farm.
Having grown oilseed rape for many years, Anthony spotted an opportunity to make more of what we were already growing, producing British cold-pressed rapeseed oil as an alternative to olive oil.
Cold-pressing is a simple, natural process. The seeds are mechanically pressed to extract the oil, much like squeezing juice from grapes, without the need for heat or chemicals.
In 2005, armed with a small oil press, some bottling equipment and plenty of determination, Just Oil was born.
What started with a handful of bottles supplied to local shops gradually grew into an award-winning business, with Anthony's sister Sarah joining the team as demand increased.
And then came Just Crisps!
With potatoes already growing in the farm's light, sandy Trent Valley soils, and our own cold-pressed rapeseed oil being produced on site, making crisps seemed like a natural next step.
In 2011, Just Crisps was launched, bringing together two ingredients grown right here on our family farm: British potatoes and British cold-pressed rapeseed oil.
Today, we grow the crops, press the oil and make our crisps in our very own on-farm factory. In fact, some of the fields where we grew our potatoes this year are less than 300 metres from where they're turned into crisps!
It's something we're incredibly proud of. Being involved in the whole process, from growing the ingredients to packing the finished products, means we know exactly where our food comes from and how it's made.
Still a family affair
Although Just Oil and Just Crisps have grown considerably since those early days, we're still very much a family-run business with our roots firmly planted at Wade Lane Farm.
Of course, none of this would be possible without the brilliant team working alongside us. From growing and harvesting to production, packing and getting orders out of the door, their hard work and dedication keep everything running.
More than 100 years after the Froggatt family first arrived at Wade Lane, we're proud to still be farming the same Staffordshire land, producing British food and finding new ways to make the most of what we grow.
And we hope to be doing just that for many more generations to come.