Supporting the community

At NFU Mutual Ashford, Tenterden & Whitfield agency we support a range of businesses working within various sectors, from micro to SME, to large corporate enterprises.

From leading winemaker Chapel Down to Parisianstyle bakery, Artisserie Patisserie, Tenterden and the surrounding area is home to some exciting, thriving businesses.

At NFU Mutual Ashford, Tenterden & Whitfield we are proud to support many of these businesses from our three offices.

Chapel Down and Artisserie Patisserie are among clients within just five miles of our Tenterden office. “For us, NFU Mutual Ashford, Tenterden & Whitfield are a very important insurance partner that supports our business,” says Andrew Carter, CEO at Chapel Down, the hugely successful wine producer.

As Darren Smith, Agent at our agency, explains, our team works extensively with businesses, regardless of their size, to help protect them, their employees, and their business assets. “We want to be recognised across the South East as the commercial insurer of choice” he says. ‘’We support a range of businesses, from caterers and manufacturers to property owners, retailers, tradesmen and viticulture.’’

Chris Underwood, Chef & Founder of the Artisserie Patisserie, which opened on Tenterden high street in 2022, says: “We know we need high quality cover, which is why we choose to insure with NFU Mutual Ashford, Tenterden & Whitfield. Given that the team regularly checks in, we know that should something unexpected take place that affects our business, we’re going to be fully supported.”

Chris launched the patisserie business with Graham Garret, a chef who also owns the West House in Biddenden, which we support with a caterer’s policy.

He says: “We’ve been insured with NFU Mutual Ashford, Tenterden & Whitfield for nearly ten years… Keeping our business, our customers and livelihood safe is our priority.”

We get to know our clients and to understand the specific risks they face. One example is Korker Sausages, a family-run wholesaler that has operated in the village of Rolvenden since 1959. India Hoad, Head of Sales & Marketing at the firm, says of our team: “Their knowledge to guide us through the appropriate cover to keep our businesses running is outstanding”.

For us, it’s all about developing strong, long-term relationships and really getting to know a business. That includes Grovewell Garden Centres, whose director Edward Boult says of us: “They understand our business and can deal with our enquiries quickly and efficiently.”

We can also offer additional products and services to commercial businesses and business owners, such as insurance for commercial vehicles, Directors’ and Officers’ Liability and cyber insurance; as well as risk management services and financial planning services including business protection for you and your employees.

A final word from another of our local clients, Webbs Ironmongery: “NFU Mutual Ashford, Tenterden & Whitfield have an outstanding reputation within the community. The team are reliable and make it their priority to ensure our business is properly protected,” says director Nigel Webb.