UK’s Best Farm Retailers Announced in National Awards
The best farm retailers in the UK have been revealed after the Farm Retail Association announced its national winners.
Winners were selected in the prestigious awards organised by the Farm Retail Association (FRA) which was formed 45 years ago to support the industry.
Awards were presented by Derbyshire Dairy Farmer and After-Dinner Speaker Peter Slack to outstanding farm retailers at the event (sponsored by specialist retailer COOK). The awards were this year held at the Holiday Inn Peterborough West as part of the FRA’s annual Stronger Together event, 2024.
The Farm Retail Awards are the only awards judged by fellow farm retailers and celebrate the best farm shops, farm cafés and restaurants, farmers’ markets and trade suppliers in the country. The 2024 award winners are:
Large Farm Shop of the Year Sponsored by Cunninghams EPOS Group: Farmer Copleys, Pontefract, West Yorkshire
Small Farm Shop of the Year, Sponsored by The Cress Co: Alder Carr Farm Shop, Needham Market, Suffolk
Farm Café/ Restaurant of the Year, Sponsored by Arrange Spaces: Runcton Farm Café, Chichester, West Sussex
Farm Shop Butchery of the Year, Sponsored by Angel Refrigeration: Welbeck Farm Shop, Worksop, Nottinghamshire
Rising Star of the Year, Sponsored by Field Fare: Runcton Farm Café, Chichester, West Sussex
Pick Your Own of the Year: Farmer Copleys, Pontefract, West Yorkshire
Farmers’ Market of the Year, Sponsored by Dole: Barnard Castle Farmers Market, Barnard Castle, Co. Durham
Associate Member of the Year: Fresh Retail Group LTD
Lifetime Achievement Award, Sponsored by CSY Retail Systems Ltd: Janet Harrison, Abbey Leys Community Farmers Market
FRA Chair Emma Mosey said: “Congratulations to all of our winners whose dedication and passion is reflected in the standard of their businesses. We thank them for their commitment to the industry which they help to grow and thrive.”
The award ceremony is part of a three-day annual FRA conference which includes farm shop tours, an AGM, expert guest speakers and topical workshops.
Today’s conference day (Wednesday 6th March) includes practical workshops and guest speakers including Olympic Gold Medalist, Ben Hunt-Davis, Becky Miles of Real Success and International Guest Speaker, Richard McCarthy, President of the World Farmers Market Coalition.
The FRA Management Board would like to recognise and thank the event sponsors for their support. These include overall awards sponsors COOK, conference sponsor, The EPOS Bureau as well as all the individual award sponsors. The FRA is open to thousands of independent retailers across the UK and offers its members support, training, workshops and open days.
AWARD WINNERS AND JUDGE’S COMMENTS (individual winner images available)
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Large Farm Shop of the Year |
Sponsored by Cunninghams EPOS Group |
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Farmer Copleys |
A fabulous Yorkshire farm shop focused on Yorkshire produce, with majority of their sales being from their own produced goods! A very strong retail offer, alongside a fantasic butchery and deli, plus their new addition, Copleys Kitchen, combines to create a wonderful site for their customers. |
Pontefract, West Yorkshire |
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Small Farm Shop of the Year |
Sponsored by The Cress Co. |
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Alder Carr Farm Shop |
Alder Carr Farm Shop champions local produce, and especially take pride in their own award-winning produce. A coherent space for the café, butchery and farm shop teams to support each other, and their customers. |
Needham Market, Suffolk |
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Farm Café/ Restaurant of the Year |
Sponsored by Arrange Spaces |
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Runcton Farm Café |
Their menu centres around their own outstanding produce, in a bright and fresh setting with loads of natural light. |
Chichester, West Sussex |
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Farm Shop Butchery of the Year |
Sponsored by Angel Refrigeration |
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Welbeck Farm Shop |
The winning factor for Welbeck Farm Shop is their locally sourced meat, with a majority of the meat coming from their own estate! The team running the butchery are friendly and knowledgable, providing high quality service.
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Worksop, Nottinghamshire |
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Rising Star of the Year |
Sponsored by Fieldfare |
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Runcton Farm Café |
Judges were impressed with what Runcton had on offer for such a new part of the business. The use of solar power across the business was also a highlight of the entry, showing innovation is at the heart of Runcton. |
Chichester, West Sussex |
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Farmers’ Market of the Year |
Sponsored by Dole |
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Barnard Castle Farmers Market |
A fantastic high street based market, run and managed by the stall holders. A wonderful range of stalls and goods, with outstanding customer interaction, supported by great local facilities. |
Barnard Castle, Co. Durham |
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Associate Member of the Year |
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Fresh Retail Group LTD |
Fresh Retail's testimonials spoke volumes about the service they offer, standing at as a preferred industry consultant. |
Skipton, North Yorkshire |
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PYO of the Year |
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Farmer Copleys |
Greeted upfront by friendly and knowledgeable staff, their PYO is very innovative, and linked to other areas of the business, like their café. |
Pontefract, West Yorkshire |
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Lifetime Achievement Award |
Sponsored by CSY Retail Systems Ltd |
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Janet Harrison – Abbey Leys Community Farmers Market |
This award recognises someone for their outstanding contribution to the Farm Retail sector. Janet has championed the Farmers’ Market cause, even representing UK Farmers’ Markets internationally, which supported the forming of the World Farmers Markets Coalition. Her own Farmers’ Market has been extremely successful, supporting many small farms and producers in the area. |
Knutsford, Cheshire |
To find out more about joining the Farm Retail Association, contact FRA Manager Laura Copeland on 01423 546214 or e-mail LauraJ@farmretail.co.uk
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