Lee Holdstock, business development manager at the Soil Association, has celebrated 20 years of working with the organic certifier – a milestone which has been marked with his inclusion in Yeo Valley’s ‘Reasons to be cheerful’ corridor.
“I feel hugely privileged to have been involved in such a diverse and innovative industry for so long,” says Holdstock. “Over the last 20 years I have met countless numbers of hugely inspiring individuals who believe in doing the right thing and possess the determination to make a positive contribute to all our futures. All have stood back, taken in the bigger picture and decided to do things differently. It’s been my pleasure to support them wherever possible.
“Twenty years is a long time, but with an endless flow of challenges and so many periods of significant breakthrough for the organic movement, there’s never really been a good time to do something different – oh, and there’s the endless free coffee too.”
There’s never really been a good time to do something different – oh, and there’s the endless free coffee too
Curated by Sarah Mead, the Yeo Valley corridor in which Holdstock’s portrait currently hangs was designed to create a ‘nice journey from reception down to the canteen, filled with things to make you smile’.
“By the time you arrive in the canteen, your glass will already be half-full. The Yeo Valley brand is all about fun and not being too serious. We use it to celebrate all kinds of British icons as well as our organic heroes. There’s a tribute to June Whitfield right now!”
Among the other luminaries who have graced the walls are Helen Browning, Graham Harvey, Patrick Holden, Sebastian Pole and Tim Westwell from Pukka, Jarvis and Katie Smith from My Green Pod and Jamie Oliver.
