Winners revealed from Farm Retail Association awards evening

The awards, which celebrate the best farm shops, farm cafés and restaurants, farmers’ markets, Pick Your Own farms and trade suppliers in the UK, took place at a dinner on 26th February in Oxford as part of the Farm Retail Association’s Annual Conference and Trade Show.

A Lifetime Achievement award was also presented to Nigel Chandler, manager at Hilliards in Surrey, for his contribution to the industry, passion for knowledge transfer and continuous improvement of businesses he has been involved in.

Milly Stokes, chairman of the Farm Retail Association said, “The awards are a fantastic recognition of the high standards, creativity, passion and commitment to customer service in this industry. Shoppers can be confident that they are buying top quality produce from genuinely caring and thoughtful people when they visit farm shops, farmers’ markets and pick your own farms in this country. Huge congratulations to all the winners and many thanks to all our sponsors.”

And the winners are…

Large Farm Shop of the Year (turnover over £1m): Denstone Hall Farm Shop & Café, Staffordshire

Small Farm Shop of the Year (turnover under £1m): Hutchinson Hobbs Farm Shop & Butchers, Stockton-on-Tees

Pick Your Own of the Year: Parkside Farm Pick Your Own, Middlesex

Farmers’ Market of the Year: Abbey Leys Farmers’ Market, Cheshire

Farm Café/Restaurant of the year: Denstone Hall Farm Shop & Café, Staffordshire

Associate Member Supplier of the year: The EPOS Bureau, Northern Ireland

Image: From L-R: Peter and Janet Harrison (Abbey Leys Farmers’ Market), Nigel Chandler, Richard Whitman (Parkside Farm PYO), Emma and Rupert Evans (Denstone Hall), Jenny and Barry Hutchinson (Hutchinson Hobbs), Nigel Bogle (The EPOS Bureau)