Help Central Fruits Get Back on the Road After Vandalism

On Friday evening, our family business, Central Fruits, suffered a devastating setback when our delivery van was deliberately vandalised outside our home. A man armed with a knife slashed the curtain sides of the vehicle, leaving it unsafe to use and threatening our ability to serve the community we have proudly supported for the past seven years.

The incident has been widely shared across social media, and thanks to CCTV footage and ongoing police investigations, we are hopeful that the person responsible will be identified and brought to justice. However, that process takes time, and in the meantime, our business needs help.

My husband, Matt, owner of Central Fruits, has worked tirelessly to provide fresh fruit and vegetables to families across Salisbury, Amesbury, and the wider Wiltshire community. He supports local farmers, schools, nurseries, farm shops, businesses, and countless local events. Every Wednesday, he also dedicates time to supporting Salisbury Foodbank and delivering fresh produce to vulnerable residents who need it most.

Unfortunately, this is not the first challenge we have faced. Three years ago, Matt parted ways with a former business partner. Last year, that individual was found guilty of criminal damage after slashing two vehicles at Matt's market trading site in an attempt to prevent him from working. Now, once again, our livelihood has been targeted, and we’re clueless as to why anyone would do this.

The curtain sides on the van have been temporarily patched to allow Matt to attend market, but the vehicle urgently needs replacement curtains to be safe and fully operational. We had hoped to use spare curtains from another van that was written off, but unfortunately they do not fit this vehicle and cannot be used.

Beyond the damage to the business, this incident has had a profound effect on our family. The vandalism took place at our home address while our family was inside. Our children are frightened, and the emotional impact has been overwhelming. Knowing that someone came so close to our home and family has left us feeling vulnerable and distressed.

We are asking for your help to raise funds to replace the damaged curtain sides so Matt can continue doing what he does best: providing fresh produce and supporting the community that has supported us for so many years.

Whether you can donate 50p, £1, £5 or more, every contribution will help get Central Fruits back on the road.

We are incredibly grateful for the kindness, messages of support, gifts for our children, advice, and encouragement we have received over the last few days. The response from the Salisbury, Amesbury, and Wiltshire community has reminded us just how fortunate we are to be part of such a caring and supportive area.

Thank you for standing by us. We support our community every day, and right now, we are humbled that our community is supporting us in return. Any surplus donations will be given to the Salisbury Food Bank.

With heartfelt thanks,

Matt, his family, and everyone at Central Fruits