Farm Shop Finalists Announced
Five Hampshire Fare members are finalists in this year’s Farm Shop & Deli Retailer Awards 2024, with the winners announced at a special event at Birmingham NEC on 29 April.
The Farm Shop & Deli Retailers Awards are run in partnership with The Grocer magazine and are highly respected in the industry. This year the Awards are all about showcasing champions within specialist categories, plus there’s a Newcomer of the Year Award category.
Fingers are crossed for: Staunton Farm Shop, Havant, in the Farm Shop Newcomer category; Sky Park Farm Shop, Petersfield, and Hiltonbury Jerseys, Winchester, both in the Farm Shop Small category; Cobbs Farm Shop, Winchester, in the Farm Shop Large category; and Chilbolton Village Stores, Chilbolton, in the Independent Local Shop/Village Store category.
Sam Elliot-Smith of Staunton Farm Shop, commented: “We are the only ones from Hampshire in the Newcomer category and we are really proud to use these awards to champion Hampshire Fare and our great Hampshire produce!”
Gaynor Oakes, Estate Retail Manager, Sky Park Farm Shop, said: “We are super excited to have been shortlisted, our farm shop team have worked so hard in making the farm shop what it is today. Our customers are the most important part in what we do and we hear daily from them how much they appreciate our high standards, but it’s always a welcome bonus to hear it from the experts in the industry too.”
Daniel Bentley, operations director Cobbs Farm Shop, said: “We are thrilled to find out that we have been shortlisted for the prestigious Best Large Farm Shop award at the Farm Shop & Deli Retailer Awards 2024. This recognition fills us with immense pride, highlighting the dedication of our hardworking teams who truly embody the spirit of our farm shops. We can’t wait to attend the event and hopefully secure the win once more!”
Oliver Neagle, Hiltonbury Jerseys, added: “We are just happy to have reached this stage as this is a huge achievement for us already. To be narrowed down to be one of the final seven small farm shops in the UK is an award in itself to us.
“We would not have been able to have done this without all of the support from our wonderful customers. We do not just run a farm shop, we are also a working farm! We produce our own raw and pasteurised jersey milk. We milk, manage and rear our own herd of 300 jersey cows, do all our own field work , grow our own crops and do all our own harvest. My wife runs the farm shop and makes all our traditional jersey ice cream here on the farm from our own milk. We attend events with our ice cream trailer and my wife organises all our events here on farm as we love engaging with the community!”
The Farm Shop & Deli Retail Awards raises public awareness of local farm shops and independent retailers, and encourages and inspires people to seek them out and discover the quality local produce stocked in these farm shops, independent delis, and village stores.