One of the 111 Livery Companies of the City of London, and 45th in order of precedence, the Fruiterers has a long and proud history. An ancient yet ‘live Livery’ with over 50% of it’s members involved in the fruit industry, it celebrates both tradition and modernity, from ancient ceremonies to modern events.
Fruiterers
The Company
Celebrating over 700 years of heritage and excellence in the Fruit Industry.
Our history
Discover the centuries-old legacy of the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers, a key City institution with deep ties to the fruit industry.
The Court
The supreme authority of the Livery is its Court, which comprises of 20 Assistants, including the Master and Upper Warden. The Court meets quarterly to discuss and ratify committee recommendations for the governance of the Company.
The Worshipful Company of Fruiterers plays an integral role in the governance of the City, joining other Livery Companies in electing the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs each year.
The Fruiterers’ Company Objectives
- To promote excellence across all sectors of the fruit industry.
- To support education and research within the fruit industry.
- To be active in raising funds and giving to charity
- To support and promote the City of London.
- To foster a spirit of good fellowship and encourage new membership.
50%
Over 50% of members active in the fruit industry.
270
270 active members
£60k
Over £60,000 donated to charity in 2023
The Fruiterers year
The Fruiterers year begins on St Paul’s Day (25th January) each year, the Feast-Day of the Conversion of St Paul, the Patron Saint of the Company.
On this day the new Master and Wardens take office for their year and are sworn-in during a Church Service, held at the Company Church St Mary Abchurch, in the City. This is followed by a lunch for members, which celebrates the achievements of the outgoing Master and welcomes the new Master.
The formal event following this is the annual Fruiterers Banquet, held in the magnificent surroundings of the Mansion House. A truly grand affair, attended by the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of the City, Ambassadors and dignitaries, as well as Fruiterers members and their guests, it is an evening not to be missed!
In March, the City Food and Drink lecture takes place at the Guildhall. Founded by Fruiterer Past Master Laurence Olins in 2000, it is a showcase of the food and drink sector with a guest speaker addressing over 600 guests and Princess Anne in attendance as patron of the event.
Early May sees the first of three formal dinners with the Spring, or Audit Court Dinner and there is a financial focus to this event.
In June, Liverymen vote at the Election of Sheriffs at the Guildhall.
In early July is the Summer Court Dinner, an event for Liverymen and their partners and always an evening of fun and fellowship.
Towards the end of September, the Election of the Lord Mayor takes place at the Guildhall and once again, Liverymen are encouraged to attend and vote at this ancient ceremony.
In October, the Fruiterers undertake an ancient ceremony in the ‘Presentation of Fruit to the Lord Mayor’. In days gone by the Lord Mayor exercised his privilege of levying a tax in the form of samples of the fruit brought into the City and the gift consisted of 12 bushels of apples ‘of various kinds and of the finest description that could be procured’. The date of the first presentation of fruit has been lost in the mists of time, but the Fruiterers’ Company, recognising his jurisdiction, undertook to pay an annual tribute to the Lord Mayor. These days a ceremonial presentation takes place at Mansion House and the fruit becomes part of the Fruit Gifting Programme; with the Fruiterers’ Company, motivated by its charitable objectives, raising funds from within the Company to provide regular deliveries of fruit to those in need in and around the City of London, including via the charity City Harvest.
The formal dinner which has a City of London focus takes place in November, through the Master & Wardens Dinner. This is usually followed by three key events in the City calendar – The Silent Ceremony, for the installation of the new Lord Mayor; the Lord Mayor’s Show (which the Company sometimes takes part in) and the Livery participation in the Remembrance Sunday Service at St Paul’s Cathedral.
In December 2022 a new tradition was born and the Company now hosts a Carol Service in mid-December at the wonderful King’s Chapel of the Savoy, the home of our Honorary Chaplain Reverend Canon Thomas Woodhouse.
