Awards 2015 – Sponsorship Document
FARMA has proudly showcased the best farm retailers across the UK through the annual FARMA awards for the past 10 years. These annual awards provide an opportunity for shops, markets, butchers and restaurants to shine amongst their competitors. The 2015 awards will see the addition of a new award which will be selected from the winners of each of the categories. This award will be won by the business that has not only shown that they are the best in their class, but also championing farm produced food. The awards themselves are not easy to win. Each entry has to progress through two stages of assessment. The first level is a review by the full judging panel, to identify the applications which stand out from the crowd. The second level is a series of visits both from the judges and a secret shopping service. This rigorous process ensures that FARMA is confident that each and every winner is a business worthy of the trophy.
Sponsorship We would like you to be part of the awards and to be associated with the hard work and dedication of these leading farm retailers; FARMA is seeking a sponsor for each of the awards. We feel that your business would add value to our awards and that the awards would be a positive addition to your marketing program.
The FARMA Conference Sponsorship Opportunities The FARMA awards are presented as part of a three day annual conference. There are a number of further sponsorship opportunities around this event which we would welcome talking to you about. Opportunities such as; a course during the prize meal, tickets, goodie bags, welcome packs, or speakers.
The Awards The FARMA Small Farm Shop of the Year: This award celebrates the best farm retailers whose turnover is less than ÂŁ750,000 per annum. Small farm shops are real gems for local communities, while some are specialist businesses focusing on specific product ranges straight off the farm, others may be linked with community post offices and provide a real link to the local communities.
The FARMA Farmers Market of the Year: Farmers markets constantly have to reinvent and promote themselves to attract more customers into the sector. The winner of this award will show innovation with regard to the customer experience and the diversity of the produce being presented at the market. The FARMA Newcomer of the Year:
The FARMA Large Farm Shop of the Year: This award is for farm shops that have a turnover greater than ÂŁ750,000 per annum. These businesses are truly professional shops which offer customers a diverse range of services and products. However they must show their commitment to the code of FARMA by raising, growing, making and baking in house with produce from their farm and local suppliers.
With an increasing number of new shops, markets and PYO coming into the sector each year, FARMA wants to award the hard work and effort taken by these businesses during their first years. The award is open to any farm retailer who has been open for less than 18 months. The judges will be looking for businesses that show a real commitment to produce from the farm while also ensuring that the business is being built on sound financial footings.
The FARMA Farm Butcher of the Year:
The FARMA Champion:
This award is open to dedicated butchers in shops, concessions within a farm shop or farmers trading at accredited farmers markets. The unifying quality we are looking for is a desire to run a financially viable business which takes animals directly from the farm to the customer. The winner is likely to showcase the story of the livestock and adding value to meat while being an inspiring business. The FARMA Farm Restaurant of the Year: With more and more farm shops running cafes and restaurants, FARMA wants to make sure that these carry FARMA vision. We are looking for businesses with menus packed with sustenance and home and locally produced food, in a pleasant environment. An essential element of this award is providing the customer with a great experience. Marks are awarded in each category to staff awareness of the provenance of ingredients. The FARMA PYO of the Year: PYO have recently experienced a big rise in demand as a day experience for visitors. The winner of this award will satisfy the customer in terms of experience and show an excellent understanding of the management of crops, the quality of the produce and marketing innovation.
This award is open to the winners of each of the above categories. The winner will have not only shown themselves to be exceptional in their specific farm retailing sector, but will also have shown a dedication to promoting all that’s good about taking food from the farm and selling it to the public. This could be through staff that goes beyond expectations in talking to the customers about the provenance of the produce, an ethos which makes the business take a leading role in local food beyond its own farm gates. This award will be chosen by the judges.
The Awards Year • The awards will be launched in the early summer of 2014. During the summer the judging process will be undertaken. • The announcement of the finalists will be in January 2015. • The award ceremony will be on the 24 February 2015.
We are looking for sponsors who would like to help support the awards and through providing a one off financial payment. Sponsorship of each of the awards has been set to reflect the press and membership interest in the award. The target sponsorship figure for each award is (plus VAT): The FARMA Small Farm Shop of the Year: £1,500 The FARMA Large Farm Shop of the Year: £2,250 £2,000
The FARMA Farm Restaurant of the Year: £1,750 The FARMA PYO of the Year:
and in the winner’s page following the awards night. This will be for a period between the agreement to be a sponsor and the launch of the 2016 awards (approximately 12 months).
•
A unique page on the FARMA website, where you will provide FARMA with up to 200 words about your business and what you are offering plus a web link to your website.
• Reference in at least 3 tweets during the awards campaign.
The Sponsorship Packages:
The FARMA Farm Butcher of the Year:
£1,500
The FARMA Farmers Market of the Year: £2,000 The FARMA Newcomer of the Year:
£1,750
The FARMA Champion:
£3,000
What FARMA will do for Sponsors? FARMA aims to support its award sponsors to raise both their profile with the FARMA membership and externally. We have set out what we will guarantee to offer you as a sponsor: •
Inclusion in all pre awards night press releases relating to the award. There will be a minimum of two press releases which will be in the editor’s notes or if the press release refers to the award you are sponsoring, within the main text.
•
Inclusion in all post awards night press releases relating to the award. There will be a minimum of two press releases which will be in the editor’s notes or if the press release refers to the award you are sponsoring, within the main text.
• Your logo on the FARMA web-page on the awards page before the awards night
•
Two seats at the awards night. These will be on the table with the finalist of your award. If you are sponsoring the FARMA Champion award, then the judges will be on your table.
•
Inclusion in the awards brochure. Minimum of 50 words on your organisation (this is likely to be more but design of this document has not been undertaken to date). Plus a web link to your website in this publication
•
One story within the members’ newsletter during the year of sponsorship. This newsletter is electronically sent to all members of FARMA. The date and topic of this will be agreed in discussion with FARMA.
• First refusal to sponsor the same award next year. This list may change and we hope improve; FARMA will be working with the media partners to ensure the awards are well publicised and further opportunities to promote your business are found during the sponsorship year.
For more information, please contact us on t: 01638 676747 @FARMA_GB
FARMA_GB
Designed and produced by Smiths Gore for FARMA
farma.org.uk