The winners of the 2011 National Farm Retail Awards from FARMA were announced this week on Tuesday 25 January at an Awards ceremony at the Bournemouth Pavilion, Dorset. The ceremony was part of the FARM & MORE event, which annually attracts hundreds of diversified farm businesses from across the UK.
Fifteen awards in total were given out to a range of businesses from England, Scotland and Wales. The awards, which are unique in the diversified farming industry in that they are peer-assessed, recognise excellence in management, business skills, customer service, commitment to own and local foods, the local community and environment.
The 2011 award-winners were:
Farm Retailer of the Year
Chatsworth Farm Shop, Derbyshire
Urban Farmers’ Market of the Year
Winchester Farmers’ Market, Hampshire
Rural Farmers’ Market of the Year
Ripley Farmers’ Market, Surrey
The Own & Local Award
Lifton Farm Shop, Devon
Best Farm Retail Newcomer
Knitsley Farm Shop, County Durham
Rising Stars – England
Newlyns Farm Shop, Hampshire
Rising Star – Scotland
Ardross Farm Shop, Fife
Rising Star – Wales
Cwmcerrig Farm Shop, Carmarthenshire
Best on-farm Restaurant
Cedar Barn Farm Shop, North Yorkshire
Best on-farm Butchery
Blackerhall Farm Shop, Yorkshire
Best on-farm Seasonal Attraction
Pink Pig Farm, Lincolnshire
The FARMA Environmental Award
Daylesford Organics, Gloucestershire
Community Spirit Award
Headingley Farmers’ Market, Leeds
Stallholder of the Year
W. Wilkes & Son, Malt House Produce, Worcestershire
The Awards’ judges based their decision upon detailed entry forms and documentation submitted by the applicants, a third party Mystery Shop, as well as visitng the businesses of all the finalists (finalists were announced in November).
Richard and Mary Simkin of Essington Fruit Farm, Staffordshire, also received the FARMA Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition of their contribution to the sector over the years.