Founder of The Alan Nuttall Partnership passes away

Founder of The Alan Nuttall Partnership passes away

Alan David Nuttall, a pioneer of retail environments, passed away on 11 September 2022, following a short illness, the company have reported.

The Alan Nuttall Partnership comprises Flexeserve and Nuttall brands, and announced the sad loss of its visionary founder and former chairman, 80, who had wholeheartedly served the business for 56 years before taking a less active role in 2022.

Born on 3 July 1942, this year he celebrated his eightieth birthday and assumed the position of the partnership’s founder, having placed the employee-owned business in a strong position to continue its journey, with the Partnership’s board saying they are fortunate to build on this already rich heritage.

Alan Nuttall’s remarkable vision was a trademark of his career, with his revolutionary self-service fruit retail model, developed in 1975, still in common use today, having been adopted by many major supermarkets, including Asda and Morrisons.

A proud Yorkshireman from a working-class background, he will be remembered as a passionate entrepreneur who had a nurturing presence, both as a friend and mentor.

Well regarded for embodying true entrepreneurial spirit, his story of small beginnings started in 1966 when he launched – with just £137 – Alan Nuttall Ltd specialising in greengrocery shopfitting.

The Partnership Board said: “His presence was enormous and undeniable. We shall remember him as a visionary, whose commitment to both his business and his family were second to none. Much loved and respected, his legacy and passion for the business will continue to live on.”

A keen innovator, he was inspired by the self-service fruit shops he saw in the U.S. and developed the UK’s first ever self-service system for fruiterers in 1975. A year later, this led him to create Fruity Fruits, which went on to be the largest independent fresh produce wholesale and retail business, employing 650 people in the UK when it was sold to Birmingham Co-op in 1989.

Jamie Joyce, CEO of Flexeserve, said: “Alan was an inspirational mentor. He had a way of nurturing people to reach their potential – I experienced this first-hand. I’ve known him for my entire career and, without him, I would not be where I am today. I’m forever grateful and will miss him tremendously – both professionally and personally.”

Among his many achievements, Alan Nuttall celebrated two Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, awarded twice in the Innovation category – first in 2005 and again in 2022. He also met Queen Elizabeth II and members of the royal family at the opening event for one of his landmark shopfitting projects for the prestigious Fortnum & Mason.

He leaves behind his beloved wife of 56 years, Jacqueline, as well as two daughters, a grandson and great grandson. He also, of course, leaves behind his professional legacy, The Alan Nuttall Partnership – a prospering, globally-operating business employing in excess of 200 Partners across two locations.

Matt Hornblower, CEO of Nuttall, added: “It is more important than ever to acknowledge Alan’s commitment to creating a Partnership that recognises the team of talented and dedicated individuals who can continue to drive it forward. The steps we have taken together with him in recent years towards becoming employee-owned have ensured that, long-term, the business is in safe hands – those of its passionate Partners.”

The teams at Flexeserve and Nuttall added that they are immensely saddened by Alan’s passing, and that their thoughts are very much with his family and close friends.