Talking Shop: Behind the scenes at Keelham Farm Shop

Recently voted as the Best Farm Shop & Deli in the North for the second year in a row, the team at Keelham Farm Shop is an established foodie favourite in the Yorkshire region. After opening its doors six years ago, Keelham has grown from strength to strength and with an award-winning restaurant and butchery, there are plenty of reasons to visit.

What sets the business apart from other independent retailers?

Championing more than 450 local suppliers, the Keelham ethos is rooted in supplying quality produce and supporting local growers, makers and producers. With an in-house butchery, bakery, fresh produce, florist, beer, wine, and store-cupboard selection, Keelham offers superb quality food and drink from the region’s finest suppliers, all under one roof. Based on the outskirts of Skipton, in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales, the Keelham team are passionate about food and sourcing the best, seasonal produce from suppliers on their doorstep.

The team at Keelham focus on providing real value to the community. Throughout the first pandemic Keelham adapted to offering an online delivery and click and collect service to help those customers shielding during the lockdown. Making sure to bring the taste of Yorkshire to homes in the area, the team offered dine at home kits, afternoon teas and as well as the option to purchase your weekly shop online. Supporting both the local supply chain and the local community.

The Keelham team continue to support the community and have hosted a number of family-oriented celebrations and events. From a big Yorkshire Day celebration weekend to offers such as “kids eat free” in the Keelham Kitchen, the Keelham team are always focusing on giving families and locals a truly Yorkshire experience. Throughout the festive period, the team put on a number of popular Christmas events such as live reindeer, afternoon tea / breakfast with Santa, festive menus and tasting evenings.

A focus on sustainability

As part of the rural community, protecting the environment and landscape are a key factor in Keelham’s approach. By sourcing local and seasonal food, Keelham Farm Shop ensure that their offering is fresh, as well as minimising the impact on the supply chain and reducing the environmental effects.

Keelham’s commitment to reduced plastic packaging allows customers to buy just one singular item, thus helping to reduce food waste. This is also shown through their participation in the Too Good To Go initiative, which allows users to purchase produce that is on the verge of going out of date at a massively reduced price. Keelham work hard to reduce their plastic, by providing reusable bags, plastic-free produce and recyclable options. The grain store promotes zero-waste and customers bring their own tubs to fill.

In addition to a jam-packed shop, Keelham also boasts an award-winning restaurant – the Keelham Kitchen (KK). Awarded Travellers Choice 2021 by TripAdvisor, the must-try Keelham Kitchen offers up a delicious range breakfast, lunch, and dinner options all created from locally sourced ingredients. The menu at the KK has been curated by a team of top chefs and changes seasonally to reflect the best local produce from their suppliers. Whether you are looking for a sit-down breakfast and lunch, or a quick spot for coffee and cake, the KK has both a main restaurant or a café-style mezzanine.

What’s next for Keelham?

The Keelham leadership team is focusing on adding value for customers, MD Paul Tidswell said, “we are working closely with our suppliers to continue sourcing the best quality, local and seasonal produce at a cost-effective price. We are aware that post-Covid, food retail prices have increased and our focus in the coming months is to provide the best value to our customers. With this in mind, we have recently launched our new loyalty club, helping customers carrying out their weekly shopping with 5% off, plus many other benefits.”

The Keelham Loyalty Club launched in October 2021, and with a huge initial uptake it is easy to see why the scheme is fast becoming a Keelham success story. Customers can take advantage of 5% off their shopping all year round across all departments. On top of this, they can also enjoy a range of restaurant benefits such as 2 for 1 afternoon tea once a year, 2 for 1 lunch once a year and a free hot drink every single month. All these benefits and more for just £10 a year.