12 April 2007, 13:33 PM
  • The Ludlow Food Centre, which aims to be a unique market place for quality, locally produced food and drink, will be officially opened on Wednesday 18th April.

Marking the realisation of a five year £2.5m dream, the Viscount and Viscountess Windsor will carry out the ribbon cutting ceremony on the day of the launch.

The 4000sq ft retail centre, situated in Bromfield, two miles outside Ludlow on the Earl of Plymouth’s Estate, has been declared a regional centre of excellence for farm based retailing and food processing in the four counties of Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Powys.

It boasts eight, integrated, glass-fronted production units staffed by local artisans, which will supply the store with organic meats, freshly baked bread, pies and patisserie, dairy ice cream, preserves and a selection of delicatessen items.

The Ludlow Food Centre’s range is sourced wherever possible from the region and includes seasonal, fresh produce from local growers and specialities such as farmhouse cheeses, handmade pickles and chutneys and much more.

Eventually some of the estate’s pigs, sheep and cattle will be relocated to surrounding paddocks, completing the Centre’s admirable ‘zero food miles’ cycle.

Managing director, Sandy Boyd, has brought the project to fruition using his years of farm retail experience with organisations such as the National Trust and highly successful Chatsworth Farm Shop in Derbyshire.

His vision for the Ludlow Food Centre has been clear from the outset. “This is so much more than a place to shop. It will serve to reconnect people back to ‘real’ food and where it comes from. We offer a diverse range of superb quality, organic and non-organic food and drink to suit all pockets and tastes and we hope that residents, as well as visitors to the region, will return to see us time and again.”