DELI OF THE MONTH Perched in a prime location on the A303, Teals is one of Somerset’s newer farm shops but this operation is far from traditional. Serving both weary drivers and locals alike, its proposition is simple but executed with modern values and style. Interview by Michael Lane
Photos by Tanwen Dawn-Hiscox
On the road to success ALL THE THINGS that have been credited with inspiring a retail concept, a cycling trip across Africa is a new one for FFD. But the journey that Teals’ co-founder Nick Sinfield made with his wife Ash, more than two decades ago, clearly made a big impression. “On that trip, through searing heat and dust, we would end up in small villages with families that had mango or pawpaw trees in their back garden – and they would sell them to us,” he recalls. “We always latched on to the sweetness of that fruit after a long day. “These were tiny producers, farming the land and selling on their doorstep. We felt there was an opportunity to bring that spirit in here on a slightly bigger scale. Where we VITAL STATISTICS
Location: 1 Orchard Lane, South Cadbury, Somerset, ba22 7fs Retail space: 700 sq m Margins: 15%-55% (retail) No. of covers: 100 No. of staff: 55 (including part-time) 44
August 2022 | Vol.23 Issue 7
got respite on our journey, we hope that others will get that by coming in and stopping in an environment like this.” Substitute the weary transcontinental cyclists for tired motorists on the A303, then swap the roadside gardens for a purpose-built retail unit surrounded by cider apple orchards – and you’ve got Teals. In less than three years, the Sinfields have built the business quite literally from the ground up into a retail & foodservice operation that caters to the needs of the travellers passing through Somerset while also developing a local customer base. In a variety of ways, Teals is proof that rural retail can be modern and isn’t always easily pigeon-holed.
While it is not intended to be a service station (comparisons to Westmorland’s Tebay and Gloucester Services don’t really hold up), locating Teals on the famous A-road that runs through the county was a very conscious choice. “We felt that the A303 was very underserved,” says Nick Sinfield. “As a holidaymaker or a commuter, there are places that you can stop but they tend to be selling non-British or corporate brands. What they do is allow you to refuel, buy a coffee, and get a sandwich. What they don’t do is expose you to the local area, and sell goods in a way that puts money back into the local economy.” The Sinfields’ vision of offering everyone
