Our Heritage

W P Bruce

Starting out as a tenant farmer, WP Bruce (William) started farming in Perthshire in 1898 growing cereals, potatoes, and also rearing blackface sheep.

W T Bruce

W T Bruce (Willie) took over from his father at Balmyle Farm, Perthshire, in 1937, where operations for Bruce Farms are now based. He too enjoyed success with livestock, both cattle and sheep, while continuing to farm the land.

W P Bruce

W P Bruce (Bill) joined the family business in the 1950s, quickly diversifying the business into vining peas in the 1960s, and blackcurrants in 1981. Bill bred Suffolk Sheep - the Drumkilbo Suffolk Sheep Flock at one point held the world record price for a Suffolk (Drumkilbo Duke) and also held the Gold Cup for the Champion Flock before the whole flock was dispersed in 1971. Bill had been president of the Suffolk Sheep Society. He also bred Shorthorn Cattle from the 1970’s to 1990. He used the Maine-Anjou breed to cross with and had the top price every year from 1983 – 1989. The Balmyle herd was dispersed in 1990. Then came the Balmyle Charolais Herd from the 1980’s until present day, including the World Record price for a Charolais (Balmyle Champion) in 1988. In 2007, he oversaw the purchase of Dundee Cold Stores Ltd., and has been instrumental in the development and operations for this facility which processes over 40,000 tonnes of produce annually.

In 2024, Bill won the prestigious Sir William Young Award for exceptional contribution to Livestock Breeding at the Royal Highland Show.

CGW Bruce

CGW Bruce (Geoff), Bill’s son, joined the company in 1993 as Director, quickly overseeing the introduction of soft fruit in 1996, and the building of a state-of-the-art Packing Hall which furthered capacity and improved efficiency. In 2007, he oversaw the purchase of Dundee Cold Stores Ltd. In 2018 Geoff further diversified the farm’s produce by investing in freeze-drying equipment, and driving the creation of the Podberry brand of freeze-dried pea snacks which launched in 2019. Geoff was a Steward for the BHA (British Horseracing Authority) from 2014 -2018 and was on the Committee for Perth Racecourse until its amalgamation in 2023. He also sat on the Board of Scotland Food & Drink from 2011 – 2019.