Each week Bristol Business News gives a prominent member of the city’s business community the last word on its weekly e-bulletin. This week Nick Matthews, regional director of wholesale fruit and veg group Total Produce, answers our 10 questions.
What was the LAST: 
Film you watched? Demolition starring Jake Gyllenhaal. I’ve been a big fan of his since watching him in Dallas Buyers Club and he puts in another great performance here as a guy trying to come to terms with his feelings of guilt after the sudden death of his wife in a road traffic accident.
Book you read? A Hologram for a King. I read the book before watching the movie of the same title starring Tom Hanks. It’s funny but once you now the star of the movie you can’t help but picture them in every scene. The main character is an old school businessman struggling to find his place in the modern world and I think Hanks performance is very underrated.
Music you bought/downloaded? Fire and Water by Free. Before that it would have been Ed Sheeran’s album that everyman and his dog seems to have downloaded but heard the Free track Mr Big in the movie Demolition and couldn’t help downloading the rest of the album.
Concert or play you went to? That would be Abigail’s Party at the Theatre Royal in Bath. I’d always been aware of the film without ever watching it but my eldest daughter has studied it at school, as did my wife 30 years ago, so we went as a family. The fact that the lead role was played by Amanda Abbington who plays Mary Watson in one of their favourite TV shows Sherlock helped to convince the kids to come along. Cast and staging were both terrific.
Sporting event you attended? Bristol v Bath at Ashton Gate. It was a fantastic day and was great to see Bristol get one over on their old rivals after so many years. Just a shame they couldn’t back it up the following week at Worcester. Still you’ve got to keep the faith!
Holiday you went on? For the last two years we’ve visited the same spot of Trapezaki Bay in Kefalonia as a family and absolutely love it. It’s such a peaceful, relaxed island where you’re guaranteed the sun and the food is great – so what’s not to love?
Restaurant you ate in? I was lucky enough to visit Sanchez Brothers Paco Tapas for my sister-in-law’s birthday a couple of weeks ago. The quality of the food was superb and the whole feel of the place makes you feel like you really could be in a little corner of Spain rather than sat on Bristol’s Harbourside. We are off to Box-E on Sunday for Mother’s Day, which is also a great new opening for Bristol. Husband-and-wife team Elliott and Tessa Lidstone make a great team and the quality of food they produce in such a small space is something quite special.
Thing that annoyed you? A technophobe who couldn’t use Google to find an address that he needed for a delivery. I had to look it up for him!
Thing that made you laugh out loud? Watching my friend and colleague Charlie Hick fall over in the mud at Celtic Manor resort yesterday afternoon. He was taking photos at our charity golf day where we managed to raise more than £6,000 for Ty Hafan Children’s Hospice in South Wales and Llanmau, a charity that helps keep young vulnerable people off the streets. So it was all in a good cause.
Piece of good advice you were given? I always find it reassuring to hear successful people talk about the way they operate when they mention something you already practice. Listening to (Bristol Sport owner) Steve Lansdown talk recently he said that he has always surrounded himself with good people. That’s something I’ve always tried to do. Not only does it make your life easier and free you up to concentrate on other tasks but it’s also better for your business. I couldn’t do the job I do without all the great people I work with many of whom drag themselves out of bed in the middle of the night to start their working day.
Bristol-born Nick Matthews has worked in the wholesale fruit and veg industry for 28 years and now oversees 10 wholesale markets across the country for Europe’s largest fresh produce business Total Produce. He is a fan of Bristol rugby and football and, through the business. supports many local charities such as St Peter’s Hospice, Ty Hafan, Llanmau, Fare Share and Redcliffe Children’s Centre.
