For The Love of Food
61 Years of Quality
At Bart, we've been perfecting the art of vibrant, authentic flavours for over 60 years - a culinary journey along the ancient spice routes around the world. All our herbs, spices, and ingredients are responsibly sourced from our carefully selected, trusted partners.
It's our mission to bring everyone to the table to share good times and great food. We're here for the food lovers, the passionate cooks and the discerning chefs and, with Bart, you can be confident your culinary creations will taste simply amazing.
61 YEARS OF EXPERTISE
Bart Spices, founded by Jo and Reg Bartlam in 1963, started as a small family business selling spices from their garage in Bristol. As the business grew, our team travelled the globe, exploring ancient spice routes and sourcing exotic flavours to bring home to UK kitchens.
At the same time, Bart moved to a purpose-built site in Bedminster during the 1980s. This new location became well-known in the area, largely due to the strong and distinctive smells of spices that permeated the surroundings, making Bart Spices a local landmark.
Bristol remains the home of Bart to this day.
Confidence in sourcing
With Bart, you can be confident that your culinary creations will taste amazing, thanks to our commitment to sourcing the highest quality ingredients. We source our ingredients from long-term partners who are rigorously audited to meet our high standards, ensuring that you are buying only the best. Our ingredients are meticulously tested by experts to deliver on flavour and sensory cues, guaranteeing an authentic taste.
AUTHENTIC FLAVOUR YOU CAN TRUST
Our herbs and spices are catalysts of delightful taste expression, rooted in regionality and culture, enabling you to unleash your passion for cooking.
We pride ourselves in creating ingredients with authentic flavours. This means, no bulking and only ingredients you would expect to find in your kitchen, sourced from our trusted partners.
CHARITY & COMMUNITY
We are dedicated to investing in our community in both the UK and the countries in which we source through our charitable partners such as Frank Water, The Square Food Foundation and Grocery Aid.
Our business is privately owned, with 90% owned by a charitable foundation which invests in supporting community projects.
60 YEARS OF BART
Scroll through our timeline to see our key milestones as a brand.
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The Beginning of Bart
Bart was founded by husband and wife Jo and Reg Bartlam. It was first called Bart Prints Ltd. and sold spices out of Jo and Reg's home in Bristol.
1963 -
Bart goes to Waitrose
We began selling Bouquet Garnis to Watrose, beginning a relationship that has lasted over 45 years.
1975 -
Our First Factory
In 1983 we moved into our first purpose built site in Bedminster, Brsitol. This would become the home of Bart for the next 37 years.
1983 -
Fairtrade Spices
in 2005 Bart were the first major herbs and spices supplier to bring Fairtrade certified spices to the UK consumer. There is nothing more important to us than the quality and flavour of our ingredients and that comes hand in hand with the wellbeing of the farmers who grow them and the sustainability of the farms they manage.
2005 -
Purchase of Unit 3
In 2007 we extended our Bedminster factory with the long-term lease of Unit 3.
2007 -
Fairtrade Herbs
We repeated our 2005 achievement but with dried herbs and became the first major herbs and spices supplier to bring Fairtrade certified herbs to the UK consumer.
2011 -
Frank Water Partnership
In 2012 we began working with Bristol based charity Frank Water. Frank Water help to bring safe water and sanitation to marginalised communities across the world to improve water security.
2012 -
The Bart Spoonkler
We patented an innovative packaging format in 2012 to enable cooks to use a spoon and sprinkle their herbs and spices from the same jar.
2012 -
Our First Wet Factory
In 2014 we bagan producing pastes and sauces at our first wet factory in Newbury.
2014 -
The Fuchs Gruppe Family
In 2017 we became a part of the family owned Fuchs Gruppe in Germany.
2017 -
Great Taste Award Winner (twice)
We won at the 2020 Great Taste Awards with two of our products; our delicious Oak Smoked Garlic Paste and our unique Roasted Punjab Masala blend.
2020 -
A Big Move to Severn Beach
We opened our state of the art facility in Severn Beach, Bristol. The move has enhanced the sustainability of our operations by reducing carbon emissions associated with stock movement between sites and warehousing, whilst improving operational efficiency.
2021 -
Our Big Brand Refresh
It's our mission to bring everyone to the table to share good times and great food. Our new branding encompasses that premise. For the love of food.
2024