The company was founded in 1969 by Anthony Barker and his wife Gillian.[1][2] The business started making elderflower wine in a converted shed on their farm in Pleasant Valley, but soon changed to creating fruit preserves.[1] By 2009 the business had grown to be purchasing around 1,000 tonnes (980 long tons; 1,100 short tons) of New Zealand fruit annually.[3] In 2007 they acquired rival relish manufacturer Anathoth Farm.[4] The business remained family owned until 2016, when a majority stake was sold to French food company Andros.[1][5]
Barker's has won several industry awards. In 2009 the company was named the "supreme business" by the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce in their Business Excellence Awards.[3] In 2015, Barker's was named "South Canterbury's best business".[6] In August 2024 they were again named supreme winner by the Chamber of Commerce.[7]
In 2019 Barker's opened a store and café complex in Geraldine.[8] As of 2024[update] Barker's employs 300 people, making it the largest employer in Geraldine, a small town with a population of around 3000 people.[1][9] In April 2024 the company announced a major expansion of their factory facility in the town, that will increase the floorspace from 3,300 m2 (36,000 sq ft) to 9,200 m2 (99,000 sq ft).[10]
