Backing Britain

Just like many farm shops and delis, we backed British Food Fortnight, which came to an end last weekend. This year we opted to run a number of special offers linked to the event, so we’ve had deals on three different steaks, for example. We also had bangers and mash on the menu every day in our coffee shop, as it’s such a British institution. The steak promotion went exceptionally well, with customers treating themselves and stocking up for the freezer too, so it looks like it’s been a very worthwhile offer.

Our jam and preserves-making competition ran throughout September and seems to have been a hit – with 41 entries. It was the first time we’d held it, but customers got behind the idea. Now we just have to taste all the entries and choose a winner!

Interest has been so high in our tractor – which was recently introduced as the centrepiece attraction of our play area – that we’ve now bought a range of robust toy tractors to sell in the shop. They fit in well with the farmyard theme and I hope they’ll be popular with customers.

And that’s not the only new range we’ve added this month – we’ve also started selling chocolates and truffles from Tiger J’s, a company based in Chesterfield, North Derbyshire. Money from each pack is donated to the wildlife charity the Born Free Foundation, which is supported by Tiger J’s founder Janet Coghlan (who survived a tiger mauling as a child 30 years ago at a British zoo). The chocolates are delicious and it’s a good cause too!