Tom Craze CO05

Tom tells us about his journey since leaving Truro School and the impact of COVID restrictions on a Cornish company reliant upon the hospitality industry.

In 2003 Tom experienced a ‘hesitant’ short stay in the boarding house whilst his parents were away on a business trip. To his surprise he enjoyed the experience and decided to become a boarder for his Sixth Form studies.

“I represented the football team throughout school and was lucky to play alongside an impressive set of players in our year. I remember the foot and mouth crisis ending our cup run, which we were certain would have ended in a rare trophy for a Truro School football team.  I always felt extremely jealous of the rugby teams’ tours to exciting places whilst the football team only travelled as far afield as Mullion. (Times have changed! Truro School is now in partnership with Southampton football club’s programme Saints SouthWest ). I have great memories and thoroughly enjoyed my Truro School days but sadly my football career was cut short following a hip injury whilst playing for Truro City and Perranporth.”  

“After school I studied Business Management in Cardiff, moving back to Cornwall in 2009 to join the family business. Newquay Fruit Sales, which rebranded as FreshPoint Southwest in 2019, has been supplying the catering and hospitality trade in Cornwall and Devon with fresh produce for over 25 years. ”  

In 2012 Tom met his wife Remie and they were married in St Colan Church, near Newquay. Their daughter Alana was born in 2014 followed by son Ernest five years later.  

“We enjoy exploring other countries’ cultures and travelling as much as we can. We spent the summer of 2018 travelling across the Mediterranean and fell in love with the lifestyle.  We are currently learning Spanish in the hope of spending our retirement in Spain – although that’s a little way off!” 

In 2014 the family business introduced a hamper range to complement its catering business, and launched an online store selling exclusively Cornish products. The company now operates three businesses from its Newquay site, FreshPoint SW, The Cornwall Hamper Company and The Cornish Deli Store, sending Cornish produce nationwide and internationally.   

“COVID has taken its toll on our catering business, although we enjoyed a bumper summer in 2020. The lockdowns have had a devastating effect upon our hospitality industry–reliant business.  Hopefully, restrictions will be lifted in the Spring and the whole of Cornwall can bounce back.“