Award Success at FARMA’s Annual Conference

The Awards have run for the past 15 years, showcasing the best farm retailers – including farm shops, markets, butchers and restaurants – across the UK, and this year’s categories included Large Farm Shop of the Year, Small Farm Shop of the Year, Pick Your Own of the Year, Farmers’ Market of the Year, Restaurant/Café of the Year, Farm Butcher of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, as well as the overall winner, Retail Champion of the Year.

This year’s winners include Hollow Trees Farm Shop (Large Farm Shop and Retail Champion), Whitehouse Farm (Newcomer), Newlyns Farm Shop (Farm Butcher) and Hanley Farm Shop (Small Farm Shop).

As well as the award ceremony, the event also encompassed tours around the region’s most successful retail businesses and a butchery competition, which was won by Cheerbrook Farm Shop.

Michael Mack, managing agent of FARMA said, “The FARMA Conference came to an end on Tuesday night leaving all the attendees buzzing with ideas and inspiration. With speakers ranging from the chair of the FSA, Tim Bennett to the CEO of the Soil Association, Helen Browning, attendees had a lot to take in.

“Looking outside of farm retailing is always a valuable way to gather ideas, and to have not only a tour of the retail parts of Chester Zoo but also Dominic Strange from the zoo speaking at the conference made people sit up and think about how they run their business and how to differentiate different customer groups.

“I would also like to thank the supporters and sponsors of the FARMA Conference. The help of organisations like Tyrrells is invaluable to FARMA.

“The conference also included the AGM for FARMA and the election of a new Chair, Milly Stokes from Farndon Fields Farm Shop in Market Harbour. Milly’s experience in the sector will ensure that FARMA has a strong future ahead. I am looking forward to working with her over the coming years.”

Image: FARMA Restaurant/Cafe of the Year, Farndon Fields Farm Shop