The Times described Unwins as "a firm that has grown ... to become one of the most familiar features of Britain’s horticultural landscape",[1] and the BBC called the company "world-famous".
[1] His son Charles, who had an interest in sweet peas, joined the business in 1914.
Most of the sweet pea seeds are from countries outside of the UK, picked by hand.
The company was bought by Westland Horticulture of Dungannon, County Tyrone in August 2004.
Unwins has the largest share of the UK amateur seed market.