NEWS

NEWS Farm shops going green to combat rocketing energy bills

By Greg Pitcher

Farm shops are turning to their own power sources in a bid to avoid crippling rises in energy bills.

A number of rural food retailers have switched to on-site renewables a er being confronted with soaring costs from electricity suppliers.

Several operators told FFD their bills will more than double in the coming weeks as they renew contracts and feel the e ects of global market conditions.

Simon Holland of Washingpool Farm Shop said that, from 1st August, the Dorset retailer would be paying 40p per unit for daytime electricity – up from 15p in July.

“My current annual expenditure is £19,000 and the new contract would work out at £53,000,” he said. “We had to nd ways around it as our business would not sustain it.”

For a broadly similar amount as the projected increase in bills, the shop has bought 20kW of solar panels and storage batteries.

“We already have 30kW on the farm that sends electricity to the grid, and we will make it up to 50kW to make ourselves self-su cient on energy,” said Holland. “We hope we will be able to store excess electricity and use it through the winter.”

Such is the demand for renewable power sources in the current economic environment that Washingpool had to access a loan and order the panels immediately to secure them.

In a social media discussion seen by FFD, one Sta ordshire farm shop said that its bill had gone up a projected £75,000 recently.

“We were shocked beyond belief,” said the retailer. “We’ve just switched on 135kW of solar panels which is a relief but we’re still drawing o the grid at night.”

A Farm Retail Association (FRA) spokesperson described energy prices as “a huge concern” and called for more grants to help businesses invest in sustainable energy.

Former FRA chairman Rob Copley agreed that power costs were a “massive issue for farm shops”.

But he added that there was increased interest in self-generating electricity.

“We are ideal candidates for renewables as we can use every scrap we produce – solar produces between 10am and 2pm which is when a farm shop is at maximum usage.”

Copley said that his own Yorkshire farm shop, which already has 90kW of solar panels, was now considering bringing in a 100kW wind turbine.

“We are doing a wind feasibility survey to see if it stacks up,” he said. “My bill has gone from £55,000 to £100,000 a year. It makes renewables schemes more viable.”

Michael Wilson / Unsplash

IN BRIEF

Paxton & Whitfield is now selling six varieties of cheese via Ocado. The range, which includes Baron Bigod, Cave Aged Cheddar and Colston Bassett Stilton, is part of the online retailers new Big Cheese Market section.

Start-ups have until the end of this month to apply for the Booths Accelerator, an initiative being run by the northern retail chain Booths to mentor new producers.

booths.co.uk/thebooths-accelerator

In response to the cost-of-living crisis, Yorkshire-based supplier Cartwright & Butler has introduced a permanent monthly wage increase for each of its 50 employees equating to £1,800 a year.

FFD’s publisher the Guild of Fine Food returned to Harrogate last month for its annual Fine Food Show North trade event.

The show, which attracts buyers from both the independent retail and foodservice sectors, has a number of long-running traditions, including the Best Stand competition – judged for many years by the muchmissed Tony Howard (Lewis & Cooper).

Broadcaster Nigel Barden took up the mantle this year and selected wholesaler Shire Foods as the winner – citing the variety of products and level of engagement especially from founder Pat Gould (pictured right with Barden).

To discover the editorial team’s pick of the show, turn to page 37.

Rural shops told to cut out cash a er northern burglary spree

Insurance underwriter NFU Mutual has urged farm shop owners to minimise cash transactions a er an unprecedented spate of targeted burglaries.

It suggested a swi switch to other methods of payment “if possible” a er seven rural retailers were broken into across the North West and the West Midlands.

Farm Retail Association chairman Rupert Evans’ Denstone Farm Shop was among those hit by thieves, who stole £15,000 from its safe. The business has since announced it will no longer accept cash payments.

NFU Mutual farming sector lead David Harrison said: “While farm shop break-ins are sadly not a new phenomenon, we haven’t had a series of highly-organised raids like this before.”

Harrison urged owners to check their insurance covered the higher levels of cash they may have on site since in ation started driving prices up.

Rupert Evans said the raid on his store was “a real kick in the teeth”.

“It is hugely unsettling for all of us to realise that criminals have obviously been in the shop working out how to return and break in,” he said.

CCTV footage showed “ gures in dark clothes and balaclavas crawling across the oor to avoid triggering the alarm system, going straight to the safe and emptying it in minutes”, Evans added.

He advised farm shop owners to minimise cash held on site. “We’ve really had no option but to go cashless.”

NFU Mutual estimates that rural the cost the UK over £43m in 2020.

For more advice visit

Steffen Salow / Pixabay]

NEWS Indies face more insecurity as bell tolls for Boris Johnson

By Greg Pitcher

Uncertainty over the identity of Britain’s next Prime Minister leaves independent food retailers fending for themselves over a hostile summer, key gures have warned.

Boris Johnson announced on 7th July that he would stand down from the role once a successor was in place, with that process expected to take until 5th September.

An interim cabinet has been formed to run the country through a summer of high in ation, sta shortages and continuing supply chain disruption.

Stefano Cuomo, chief executive of Kent food retailer Macknade, said this “lack of leadership” le a “base reality” of challenging trading conditions.

“Small businesses have had to become more resilient over the past ve years and look to themselves and their own

The UK could be without a Prime Minister until September and many feel Parliament will be rudderless

networks and structures,” he said. “Good operators will have to work out how to deliver best quality product in a constrained marketplace.”

Shops are facing a prolonged period of consumer caution, Cuomo added.

“People are lacking clarity about how their personal economics will pan out over the next six to 12 months so everyone is questioning what they spend on.”

Association of Convenience Stores government relations director Ed Woodall said it was “unlikely” that farm shops would bene t from policy announcements before a new Prime Minister was in place.

“Throughout the process and into the autumn, we’re in regular contact with Government o cials and MPs to highlight the pressures shops are facing, and the interventions they need,” he added.

British Independent

James Newcombe / Unsplash Retailers Association chief executive Andrew Goodacre called for “a clear plan” to help small businesses through the current crisis.

“It seems that ministers have been moved unnecessarily and those new in position are on a steep learning curve – then we have the prospect of ‘all change’ again in September.

“Indie retailers will need all their resolve to get through this as government support and focus will not be forthcoming.”

Sangita Tryner, owner of Delilah Fine Foods in Nottingham, said independent food retailers needed urgent support from central government including VAT cuts.

“I have big city centre problems,” she said. “There are lots of empty units; it is all restaurants around us now and the city centre needs more than that. Rates and rents don’t allow creative people to come into the city.”

FDF appeals to prospective Tory leaders for more support

Food and Drink Federation chief executive Karen Betts has written to the prospective new Prime Ministers urging support for the sector.

Betts wrote in July to ex-chancellor Rishi Sunak, foreign secretary Liz Truss and other MPs, asking for help with labour shortages, taxes and red tape.

Producers worked on tight margins that had been “relentlessly squeezed” by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, she warned, insisting the sector needed support for the sake of the economy and the public.

“We are now in the 10th consecutive month of food price in ation,” said Betts. “With the cost of ingredients and energy still rising relentlessly, companies in our sector think food price in ation still has some way to run.”

Betts said sta shortages were driving in ation, and called for Government support with short- and long-term solutions”

She also urged consideration of a scheme to incentivise investment in productivity measures. Elsewhere Betts called on the leadership contenders to reform capital allowances and look afresh at VAT and other business levies.

On Brexit, the letter warned that “it is not clear to us that leaving the EU is, so far, resulting in the UK adopting a more agile and proportionate regulatory regime”. The results from Great Taste 2022 are now live, after the final phase of judging – a reassessment of the 3-star award-winning items – was completed in July.

This process was conducted at both the Guild of Fine Food’s Dorset HQ and its London venue near Borough Market (pictured below), with all 241 3-star winners getting a once-over from top industry palates to determine which products will win a Golden Fork and which single entry will be named Supreme Champion.

This was the culmination of 90 days of judging to assess the 14,205 products entered this year. Turn to page 51 for more information about Great Taste 2022.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT... BIG CHANGES IN WESTMINSTER

ROB COPLEY,

FARMER

COPLEYS,

PONTEFRACT

“We are affected by politics but they are down in Westminster having a fight and we are up here picking up the pieces and making the best of what we’ve got. Cost of living is the biggest factor; it would be nice to have someone in there getting it sorted.”

“People were more cautious before Boris resigned because it was a continuing situation. Now at least something is happening – there is optimism. As a country, we are in so much debt after the pandemic that we need to make cutbacks but the politicians will make it easier for people now, to win votes.”

“Prior to Covid there was low inflation for a generation who are now new to the idea of costs coming through. There is a feeling that food should be cheap but it is important to understand what the cost of food ought to be. We need to reassess collectively what we spend our cash on – and that requires political leadership.”

SANGITA

TRYNER,

DELILAH

FINE FOODS,

NOTTINGHAM

STEFANO

CUOMO,

MACKNADE,

FAVERSHAM

NEWS Dobbies to stock Waitrose lines across its foodhalls

By Michael Lane

Garden centre chain Dobbies has announced a new partnership with Waitrose that will see it stock a wide range of the supermarket’s grocery and essentials lines across its stores.

The deal, which replaces Dobbies’ current tie-up with Sainsbury’s, will eventually see Waitrose lines stocked at more than 50 garden centres across the UK, including new agship stores in Tewkesbury and Reading.

Since launching its new foodhall concept in July 2020, Dobbies said there had been signi cant growth in food sales throughout the business and the new venture with Waitrose was intended to build on this success.

Among the lines being brought in are the essential Waitrose range, as well as the premium Waitrose No.1 and Duchy Organic brands. This covers a number of categories, including ready meals, free-from & vegan ranges, prepared fruit & vegetables, snacks and cupboard staples.

Dobbies will continue its existing partnerships with brands including Hotel Chocolat and Cook.

The garden centre business’s Edinburgh location was the rst to bene t from the new stock, with Waitrose lines introduced last month. Dobbies estimates that this arrangement will bring the Waitrose brand to 20 new towns and cities in the UK.

James Bailey, executive director for Waitrose, said: “It will take us into locations that are entirely new for us and build our presence in other areas where a Waitrose shop may not currently be conveniently accessible, despite strong demand for our products.”

Bisco owner Lotus buys up Peter’s Yard

A er initially taking a 20% stake in sourdough crispbread producer Peter’s Yard in 2019, Lotus Bakeries has now acquired the entire business, with its founders set to step down.

A staple brand in the UK independent market, Peter’s Yard will now become part of its new Belgian owner’s Natural Foods division.

Lotus, which is most famous for its Bisco sweet biscuit, took a minority stake in Peter’s Yard during 2019 via its Fast Forward 2032 venture capital arm – and the UK brand has since doubled its turnover to around £6m.

Ian Tencor and Wendy Wilson-Bett, who founded Peter’s Yard in 2008, praised the impact that Lotus has had on the business so far.

“We chose Lotus Bakeries as a minority investor in 2019 because of their complementary capabilities and similar values, which would help us grow the brand pro tably,” they said in a statement.

“Our focus was always on nding a long-term partner for the brand, which convinces us that Peter’s Yard has now found an excellent home within the Lotus Bakeries Group brand portfolio.”

petersyard.com

IN BRIEF

North London retailer Nourished Communities has opened a second outlet. The shop on Blackstock Road features an underground mushroom farm and its own beehives.

Rollagranola has acquired British muesli brand Primrose’s Kitchen – and it has already added two new granola lines to Primrose’s range: Orange & Cashew and Chocolate & CBD.

The Great Cornish

Food Store in Truro has become the first business of its kind in the county to be owned by its workers, who will all get a share of profits. DOWN ON THE FARM The latest from farm shops across the country

Hennessy Farm Shop has recently opened on the high street in Edenbridge, Kent. The bay window displays kitchenware and picnic blankets and inside you will find fresh bread, cheese and a fully stocked deli counter.

@hennessyfarmshop (Instagram)

In Cumbria, Low Sizergh Barn Farm Shop has reopened its lower ground floor, known as the “shippon”. Formerly used to house animals, this area became part of the Kendal-based shop in 2000 but has been closed for two years due to the pandemic. It has now been restocked and its open to the public once more.

lowsizerghbarn.co.uk

Rich’s Cider, a family run business producing traditional farmhouse cider and apple juice with Somerset apples for the last 70 years, has now branched out with the addition of a farm shop. Joining the on-site cider museum in Watchfield, the new outlet stocks local produce and features a butchery and a deli counter. There is also a tasting bar, where customers can try the Rich’s cider range before deciding which one to put in their basket.

richscider.co.uk

“From the Island, For the Island” is the slogan proudly displayed behind the new counter at Fanny’s Farm Shop on the Isle of Wight. Opened last month in Freshwater, this shop was created specifically to showcase the wide variety of produce available on the island and celebrate buying and eating local.

fannysfarmshopiow.com

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Fabulous Farm Shops