UK’s indie food retailers to be recognised in the Farm Shop and Deli Retailer Awards 2024.
Posted on in Business News
Bakers, butchers, cheesemongers, delicatessens, fishmongers, greengrocers, village stores and small farm shops from around the UK have been shortlisted in the Farm Shop and Deli Retailer Awards 2024.
The awards, run in partnership with The Grocer magazine, are designed to showcase smaller grocers and food shops facing the challenge from supermarkets. You can find out more about those shortlisted in this year’s awards by clicking here.
With an expert panel of judges, the awards recognise the highest levels of service, product knowledge, initiative, innovation and community involvement offered by our heroes of the high street.
The awards are highly respected in the industry for playing an important role in supporting, and celebrating, the UK’s independent, specialist retail market across several different categories.
The Farm Shop and Deli awards are being announced against a background of sharp prices in the cost of food and some other groceries in the UK. There have also been alarming rises in the cost of energy and road fuel which have impacted traders and producers.
Surveys have highlighted the important role of the industry to regional economies in particular.
During the pandemic, for instance, farm retailers saw an 89% rise in sales, according to a recent survey. Considering that there are an estimated 1,581 farm retailers across the country, the data demonstrates the pivotal role that farm shops play in the UK economy today. Collectively, farm shops were found to be generating more than £1.4 billion in sales, a testament to the passion and innovation of farm retailers.
Further research revealed that customers are increasingly seeking higher quality products and excellent customer service, and this is why they are attracted to local community farm shops.
Farm shops and delis offer a different experience to high street shopping through the quality of their produce and their standard of service – a difference that is increasingly appreciated by customers. Farm shop and deli owners were found to be more knowledgeable about products and the people making them.
Independent food shops are vital for giving small, specialist brands opportunities to be seen and understood while being able to provide expertise and hands-on advice to the consumer on products and how these can be used to create imaginative meals at home. The personal touch is another area where experts agree delis and artisan retailers excel.
The ‘human element’ is often the most important reason why shoppers choose delis and farm shops.