Farm Shop & Deli Award Category Winners Announced

The awards are designed to recognise the best standards in fine food retailing, and entrants are judged on quality of service, innovation, product knowledge and community involvement. This year saw a record number of nearly 300 entries from businesses across the UK as well as thousands of consumer votes.

Judge Neil Nugent, executive chef and head of product development at Morrison’s said, “The Awards are a brilliant opportunity for the UK’s small independent businesses to get recognition nationally and enable them to become a destination.”

Nigel Barden, chair of judges said, “It’s gratifying to know that there are so many excellent purveyors of food and drink in Britain and during the mystery visits I have been delighted, moved & inspired by the people I’ve met. They care passionately about their vocational career paths. It’s heartening to hear of apprenticeships being offered in butchers, bakers, fishmongers and greengrocers and inspiring to find how farm shops, food halls and delicatessens are so much at the heart of their communities. “

The category winners are as follows:

Farm Shop of the Year: Ardross Farm Shop
“Our mission is to create a profitable and sustainable business through farming. In order to achieve this, the farm has to: Use a combination of both traditional and modern farming techniques to create the best system for farming in a sustainable way. Move to a breed of cattle which are good mothers, graze extensively and require little interference from us which also provide first class meat to sell through the shop supply as much of the vegetables sold through the shop as possible.

“The shop has to: Employ enthusiastic food lovers with passion for working with people provide the best possible service at all times Inspire customers to cook, use local ingredients and experiment Ensure any products bought in are from small artisan producers with similar values. At all times listen to customers feedback and grow the business in response to this. Interact with our customers in as many ways as possible including online, attending local meetings, working with children etc.”

Food Hall of the Year: Ludlow Food Centre
“We are overjoyed to win such a prestigious award. Being recognised amongst the calibre of competition in the Food Hall category is both exciting and humbling. The dedication of our staff for the last seven years has helped us establish a business that our customers enjoy shopping in and that we are proud to be part of. This marks a fantastic start to what we hope will be a great year for Ludlow Food Centre. Our aim for 2014 is to continue to produce award winning food for our customers and to be best in our field.”

Other winners include:

Delicatessen of the Year: The Mainstreet Trading Company
Garden Centre of the Year: Brown and Green
Fishmonger of the Year: Veasey & Sons Fishmongers
Greengrocer of the Year: Sussex Produce Company
Online Business of the Year: Wing of St Mawes The Cornish Fishmonger
Cheesemonger of the Year: Town Mill Cheesemonger
Bakery of the Year: East Bristol Bakery

The next round of judging will pick out the best overall retailers in each region of the UK. Regional Winners are set to be announced late February, with the overall winner announced at The Farmshop & Deli Show on 24th March.