Tributes have been paid to a man who set up his own business delivering food around Bristol and turned it into a national supplier, who has died at the age of 86.
Arthur David became something of a household name around Bristol and Somerset back in the 1960s, 70s and 80s with his firm’s familiar sky blue delivery lorries and vans with A. David & Sons connecting farms with shops, supermarkets, restaurants and pubs.
Arthur David worked in farming as a young man in Somerset before moving to Bristol when he married his wife Diane, and joined his new father-in-law’s greengrocer business. Then, in 1960, he set up his own delivery business that grew over the decades to be one of the biggest suppliers of British farm produce to the hospitality industry.
Now based near Chew Valley Lake in Bishop Sutton on the southern edge of Bristol, with Arthur’s son Phil as its chairman, the firm manufacturers, sells and delivers ‘multi-temperature catering products to chefs and caterers across the UK’.
The firm announced its founder had passed away late last week ‘with great sadness’, describing Arthur as a ‘hero to many of us’. “For so many years Arthur has been our inspiration and guiding light, remaining fully involved in the success of the business right until the end,” a company spokesperson said.
“He still very much influenced the direction of the company that he strived so hard to build over many years and was always interested to hear the latest news. Arthur considered everyone involved, whether an employee, customer or supplier, part of his family and he always showed a great level of care and concern for them all.
Arthur David, who set up a grocery delivery service in Bristol and North Somerset back in 1960 that’s now a large company. He passed away in late December 2024 at the age of 86
(Image: Arthur David & Sons)
“Throughout all the challenges that the business faced, Arthur always stayed true to his personal values and showed true entrepreneurial leadership to ensure the business continued to thrive. Setting high standards at all times, Arthur would always go the extra mile for our customers, often delivering himself to ensure their needs were met. It was this kind of dedication that inspired our company strapline ‘Leave it with us’.
“A hero to many of us, Arthur leaves a huge hole in the lives of the people he touched, and our very kindest thoughts and love go to everyone in the family at this incredibly difficult time,” they added.
Arthur was a father, grandfather and great-grandfather, and many work in the family business or set up businesses of their own. One of his grandsons, Joe, runs the Chew Valley Distillery. In a post on Instagram, he said Arthur ‘has made a huge impact on a lot of people’s lives’. “Grandad always showed us that hard work pays off and until the very end had nothing but admiration and wise words to help us.
“He leaves behind a legacy of a man that anyone could call on in a time of need. But most importantly, he leaves behind his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who all worship the ground he walked on,” he added.