Farm Shop Reopens For Customer ‘cult’

The owners’ renewed determination to promote the value of sustainably sourced food is proving infectious.

Customers are being encouraged to ‘beat the January blues’ with special offers ahead of Farmhouse Breakfast week (25th-29th January).

The county will also be tuning in to hear owner, Emily Norton enthuse about the shop’s forthcoming activities on Radio Norfolk (midday, 27th January).

“I’ll be celebrating milk as the cornerstone of a great breakfast. Hundreds of people are making healthy, local choices at breakfast already, so I’ll be tasking listeners to join them,” said Ms Norton.

The broadcast is well timed. Consumers across Norfolk and Suffolk can now buy milk, cream and butter from Nortons Dairy via a new website; www.welovelocalfood.co.uk.

“It’s a not-for-profit social enterprise, so people know they are getting great value for money and helping the local economy. It’s brilliant!” explained Ms Norton.

The Nortons’ New Year aim is to get as many people as possible appreciating ‘real’ food from a ‘real’ farm, so the dairy and shop will be participating in campaigns and initiatives throughout the year to get the message across.

“For trading in 2010, we intend to focus on what makes us special - a real farm shop selling lots of produce from our own farm and from neighbouring farms,” said Ms Norton. 

Coming face to face with the growing stronghold of the supermarkets will form a big part of the plan.

“We won’t be afraid of making price comparisons with the multiples this year, but I hope the Government’s recent 2030 food agenda will give us additional scope to promote the value of sustainably produced food,” added Ms Norton.

Extending the dairy offering is another ambition for 2010. There’s even an indication this could lead to a bigger shop on-site.

“With any luck, we’ll be able to generate enough profit to develop the farm shop building and maximise its destination value,” finished Ms Norton.

The shop currently sells home-reared beef, extensively reared local pork and lamb, vegetables from Frettenham and Spixworth, local cheeses, breads, cakes, and a selection of store cupboard groceries.

The Norton family has farmed in Frettenham, Norfolk since 1946.

For more information visit www.nortonsdairy.co.uk.