Showing posts with label farm shops. Show all posts
Showing posts with label farm shops. Show all posts

Friday, 23 October 2015

Haughton Honey available through key wholesaler

Haughton Honey is now available to farm shops, delis, garden centres and other stores across central England, the West Midlands and mid-Wales via wholesaler Bikold Foodservice.
It is the first major wholesaler to take the brand, which was launched last year by bee farmer Cris Reeves. 
Haughton Honey is part of the ambient product range available to Ludlow-based Bikold’s network of retailers. It is offered as a branded four-by-340g jar pack and wholesales at £15.20 per pack/£3.80 a jar.
As a result of the partnership, Haughton Honey’s direct wholesale offering will fall into line with the same pack size and price offer.
“The relationship with Bikold Foodservice is a milestone for Haughton Honey as it represents the first major wholesale partnership since the brand was launched in 2014. It will make it easier for retailers and trade customers across central England, the West Midlands and mid Wales to stock Haughton Honey, and is a key building block in our expansion plans,” said Cris, who is based in Cheshire.
“We anticipate this is the first of a number of wholesalers across the UK who we hope will take the brand.”
The Haughton Honey cooperative has approximately 1,600 hives spread across the North West and the Midlands, including Cheshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire and Warwickshire. It currently supplies more than 60 stores, mainly across the North West and the Midlands but the partnership with Bikold supports the brand’s plans to expand throughout the UK.
Haughton Honey is raw honey which comes straight from the hive, is cold extracted and never pasteurised which means that it retains all of the natural enzymes and proteins that make English honey so special. Haughton Honey is 100% natural and pure, and features traces of dandelion, chestnut, blackberry, clover and other wildflowers.
For more details visit www.haughtonhoney.com
Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk 

Thursday, 2 August 2012

Two star gold award for Croots Farm Shop’s home smoked back bacon

Derbyshire farm shop Croots has struck gold by winning a two star gold award in the annual Great Taste Awards for its home smoked back bacon.

The awards are regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of the fine food industry, and it is the fifth Great Taste Award presented to Croots in the past four years.

Judges described the bacon, which is smoked on the premises at Croots Farm Shop, Duffield, as having “wonderful porkiness. The rind and fat were very tasty as well. Just the right amount of salt. Good meaty texture.”

Farm shop owner Steve Croot said: “We are thrilled to have received another Great Taste Award. The awards are judged by chefs, food writers, retailers and other food experts, and are one of the most highly regarded accolades in the speciality food and drink sector.

“We only started smoking our own bacon at the start of this year, so to have it confirmed that we’re doing it to such a high standard is wonderful for our team at Croots Farm Shop.”

Last year Croots, which is based at Farnah House Farm, Wirksworth Road, scooped two one star gold Great Taste Awards for its traditional pork pie and its lemon oil. In 2010 one of Croots’ ales, Cow Juice Beer, won a gold star rating in the Great Taste Awards, while the previous year the accolade was given to the farm shop’s Black Pudding Sausage.

This year’s award for the home smoked back bacon is a two star gold award – making it one of the best bacons in the country.

The Great Taste Awards are run by the Guild of Fine Food and received almost 9,000 entries this year. Less than a third received an accolade of one gold star, two gold star or three gold star following the judging process.

“It’s always a fantastic boost for our staff to hear that we’ve won another award, and I’d like to thank them for their role in making Croots Farm Shop an award-winning store,” said Steve Croot. “This particular bacon, which at £10.49/kg compares very favourably with the £14.20/kg price at Tesco online, is one of many products that we make ourselves at Croots. Since buying the smoker, we’ve developed several new products which seem to be going down well with our customers.”

Croots Farm Shop has won many awards since launching just over four years ago, especially for its home made sausages, pies and meat products.

The home smoked back bacon previously received an award during Bacon Connoisseurs’ Week in March.

The farm shop was also recently highly commended in the national Deli of the Year competition.

In 2010 it was a runner-up in the Best UK Independent Food Retailer category of the Observer Food Monthly Awards. The year before, it was named in The Independent’s top 50 best food shops.

Croots opened its doors in June 2008 and has gone from strength to strength. As well as the shop and café, it has a plant nursery and a children’s play area.

It stocks products from around 40 producers within a 50-mile radius of the shop, as well as items from further afield, and employs 21 people. The store is particularly popular with sausage fans and estimates it has made around 8 million handmade sausages since opening.

Croots Farm Shop and Kitchen is open Sundays from 10am to 4pm (café until 3.45pm), and from Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm (café until 4.30pm). It is closed on Mondays.

For more information visit www.croots.co.uk

Issued by Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Monday, 18 July 2011

Derbyshire’s Croots Farm Shop celebrates two gold Great Taste Awards

Derbyshire farm shop Croots is celebrating the news that it has been awarded two Great Taste Awards for its traditional pork pie and its lemon oil.

The awards run by the Guild of Fine Food are regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of the food and drink industry. Croots traditional pork pie and its lemon oil were each awarded a one star gold award by the judges, who included chefs, food writers and retailers.

Last year, one of Croots’ ales, Cow Juice Beer, won a gold star rating in the Great Taste Awards, while the previous year the accolade was given to the farm shop’s Black Pudding Sausage.

“We are thrilled that both our pork pie and our lemon oil have been recognised as gold star standard in the Great Taste Awards, which are one of the most highly regarded food and drink award schemes in the UK,” said Steve Croot, who runs the farm shop at Farnah House Farm, in Wirksworth Road near Duffield.

“Both products are popular with our customers, and I’m delighted to hear that the judges of the Great Taste Awards agreed that they are special, and have given them the seal of approval. Judging is based on taste, not marketing, so customers know that a product that’s been awarded a Great Taste Award is going to taste really good.”

More than 7,400 products were entered into the awards, which are regarded as the benchmark in speciality food and drink, but less than a third were granted gold stars status.

The Great Taste Awards are the latest in a number of awards won by Croots over the past few months.

The shop and café, which recently celebrated its third birthday, was last month commended in the Deli of the Year competition after being nominated by customers as part of a national competition, and it also scooped four accolades in the British Pie Awards 2011, including a gold for its popular steak and kidney pie.

In May, Croots took three golds and a silver award for its sausages and pies at the 17th Robin Hood Championship. And in February Croots won 16 awards for its sausages and pies at the BPEX regional roadshow at Newark Showground in Nottinghamshire.

Last year it was a runner-up in the Best UK Independent Food Retailer 2010 category of the Observer Food Monthly Awards. The year before, it was named in The Independent’s top 50 best food shops.

“Our staff work very hard to create top quality products, and it’s extremely gratifying to receive awards,” said Steve. “The awards we have won recently have been based on either feedback from industry experts or from customers, so it’s great to hear that we are hitting the spot with both.”

Croots, based at Farnah House Farm, opened its doors in June 2008 and has gone from strength to strength. As well as the shop and café, it recently opened a plant nursery.

Croots Farm Shop and Kitchen is open Sundays from 10am to 4pm (café until 3.45pm), and from Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm (café until 4.30pm). It is closed on Mondays.

For more information visit www.croots.co.uk


Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Tuesday, 5 July 2011

Meet the Shire Horse Day at Croots Farm Shop in Derbyshire

Visitors have the chance to find out more about the gentle giants of the horse world when Croots Farm Shop stages a Meet the Shire Horse Day later this month.

The event at Farnah House Farm, Wirksworth Road, near Duffield, takes place on Sunday July 17th.

The farm has been home to Shire horses for around 45 years, and has bred many award-winning animals. Foals born at the farm have moved to countries all over the world.

The event, which runs from 11am to 2pm, features plaiting displays and the chance to talk to Shire horse owner and judge Jim Yates to find out how the horses are cared for. There will also be horse-related activities for children.

“There’s something quite special about Shire horses. Many of our customers love them and often ask questions about them when they come to the shop,” said Steve Croot, who runs Croots Farm Shop. “We thought it would be nice to have a day where visitors can get to know some of the horses and foals that live at the farm and learn more about them.

“Shire horses have been in the family for generations and have lived at Farnah House Farm for decades. Jim is renowned in the world of Shire horses, and has judged at Shire horse shows in many different countries.”

Croots Farm Shop & Kitchen is open Sundays from 10am to 4pm (café until 3.45pm), and from Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm (café until 4.30pm). It is closed on Mondays.

For more information visit www.croots.co.uk

Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Wednesday, 22 June 2011

Croots Farm Shop birthday raises almost £1,200 for Derbyshire children’s charity Treats

Birthday celebrations at Croots Farm Shop in Wirksworth Road, near Duffield, have raised almost £1,200 for Derbyshire children’s charity Treats.

Staff at the farm shop and kitchen took part in a sponsored walk – clocking up 66 miles between them – and a luxury food hamper was raffled during a family fun day to mark the business’s third birthday.

The hamper was won by Edith Hough, of Hulland Ward, Derbyshire, a regular visitor to Croots’ award-winning butcher’s counter, deli and café.

Treats was set up 25 years ago to help under-privileged children in Derbyshire. It is one of Croots’ chosen charities for 2011.

Farm shop owner Steve Croot said: “It was a great effort by customers and staff. It’s great to have raised so much for Treats.

“The fun day included free face painting and a bouncy castle as well as a barbecue serving some of our award-winning sausages and meats.

“Earlier in the week staff pulled out all the stops, walking 66 miles in relays along the drive from the front of the shop to the main road and back. In all, we raised just short of £1,200.”

Online donations can still be made by visiting www.justgiving.com/Steven-Croot

Croots, based at Farnah House Farm, opened its doors three years ago and has gone from strength to strength. As well as the shop and café, it recently opened a plant nursery.

Its sausages and meat products have won numerous awards. Last year it was a runner-up in the Best UK Independent Food Retailer 2010 category of the Observer Food Monthly Awards. The year before, it was named in The Independent’s top 50 best food shops.

Croots Farm Shop & Kitchen is open Sundays from 10am to 4pm (café until 3.45pm), and from Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm (café until 4.30pm). It is closed on Mondays.

For more information visit www.croots.co.uk

Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Wednesday, 9 February 2011

Croots Farm Shop strikes gold with sausages and pies during BPEX roadshow


Croots Farm Shop has some of the best-quality sausages and pies in the East Midlands, according to industry experts.

The Derbyshire farm shop, which has its own butchers’ counter, deli and café, is celebrating after receiving four gold, seven silver and five bronze awards during the BPEX regional roadshow at Newark Showground in Nottinghamshire.

Croots hit the gold standard with its Lincolnshire sausages, beef, ale and mustard sausages, the Merquez (beef and lamb) sausages and the deli counter’s beef cobbler.

Silver awards went to the team’s tomato and basil sausages, and its pork sausages, along with its cottage pies, lasagne, mince and onion pies, steak and Stilton pies and steak and kidney pies.

Croots’ breakfast bangers, lamb and mint sausages, and chilli and lime sausages took bronze, while 19-year-old apprentice butcher Lee Barton won bronze in the young sausage maker category for his pork and cracked black pepper sausages and a bronze for his onion and marmalade sausages

Lee’s prizes took the Croots haul to 16 awards in a single day.

“It’s a tribute to our butchers, Rob Tomkins, Ant Griffiths and Lee, that pork industry experts rate our products so highly,” said Steve Croot, who runs Croots Farm Shop at Farnah House Farm, Wirksworth Road, near Duffield.

“It puts an official stamp of approval on what we have known for a long time – that quality ingredients and real expertise are the key to great local food.

“Our sausages and other meat products are renowned throughout the area and some of our customers come long distances to stock up. We’re absolutely delighted to have picked up 16 awards, including four gold awards.”

The awards are not the first to have been presented to Croots. In 2009, the farm shop received a one star gold award in the Great Taste Awards run by the Guild of Fine Food for its black pudding sausage. In November 2010 Croots won a silver award for its breakfast sausage in a competition held to mark British Sausage Week.

Produced by the shop’s in-house butchers, all the pork sausages at Croots are made using free range Packington Pork from Barton-under-Needwood near Burton-upon-Trent. Croots has a range of around 40 different flavours of banger, which it sells on a rotating basis. The farm shop recently extended its fresh meat counter in response to demand.

Roadshow entries from all over the East Midlands were evaluated by BPEX judges using nationally agreed guidelines in this latest event. The awards promote excellence in pork products and are aimed at small producers. BPEX is a division of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board and works to promote English pork nationally and globally.

For more information visit www.croots.co.uk

Croots Farm Shop & Kitchen is open Sundays from 10am to 4pm (café until 3.45pm), and from Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm (café until 4.30pm). It is closed on Mondays.

Nottingham PR consultant Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Wednesday, 12 January 2011

Croots Farm Shop customers and staff raise cash for charity

Customers and staff at Derbyshire farm shop Croots have raised £450 for local children’s charity Treats over the past 12 months.

The farm shop in Wirksworth Road, near Duffield, adopted the charity during 2010, and raised the cash through a number of initiatives including the sale of Christmas trees, selling carrier bags and the donation of fees given to farm shop owner Steve Croot for talks to local groups.

Customers have also collected around £400 over the past year for the Shire Horse Society, which takes the total raised by Croots for the charity to £1,000 in two and a half years since the shop opened.
Now Croots has announced that it will be supporting both charities again in 2011.

“Our customers and staff are very generous when it comes to supporting these two very different but very worthwhile charities,” said Steve Croot. “I’m delighted that Croots has been able to raise so much over the past year and look forward to helping Treats and the Shire Horse Society again over the coming 12 months.”

Treats Children’s Charity was launched more than 23 years ago by a group of professional businesswomen in Derbyshire to raise money for the children of Derbyshire and the surrounding region. Over the years, it has donated thousands of pounds to needy causes.

Croots Farm Shop is based at Farnah House Farm, which has been the home to Shire horses for many years.

For more information visit http://www.croots.co.uk/

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Tuesday, 7 December 2010

Christmas festivities at Croots Farm Shop & Kitchen

Croots Farm Shop in Derbyshire is giving customers a festive gift with a 10% off shopping day on Thursday 16th December.

The discount will apply to everything on sale in the shop at Farnah House Farm, Wirksworth Road, near Duffield, for one day only.

“We’d like to reward our loyal customers by giving them the opportunity to take advantage of our 10% off promotion on Thursday 16th December,” said Steve Croot, who runs the farm shop. “It’s our Christmas present to them!”

Croots is raising money for local children’s charity Treats through the sale of Christmas trees this year by donating £1 for every tree sold to the charity, which is its nominated good cause for the year.

The fir trees are grown locally and fit in with Croots’ policy of selling local and regional produce where possible.

As part of its festive selection, Croots is also creating a range of Christmas sausages, featuring mulled wine sausages and fig-flavoured sausages.

The store at is also adding a seasonal twist to its own-brand farmyard range of beers, with a Rudolph ale – a dark ale brewed by Nutbrook Brewery.

Croots is currently taking orders for turkeys and other Christmas meats, and has a wide range of festive fare on sale, including chocolates.

Croots is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm and on Sundays from 10am to 4pm. The 10% off day runs from 9am to 5pm on Thursday 16th December.

Visit http://www.croots.co.uk/ for more information.

http://www.perfect10pr.co.uk/

Wednesday, 27 October 2010

Magical Harry Potter-themed sausage festival at Croots Farm Shop, Derbyshire, to mark British Sausage Week

Derbyshire farm shop Croots is celebrating British Sausage Week with a Harry Potter-themed sausage festival.

There’ll be bangers that are ‘a quid each’ (quidditch), an HP sausage and a fiery Voldemort banger on offer during the festival at the farm shop near Duffield on Saturday November 6th.

Croots is also celebrating winning a silver award for its breakfast sausage in a competition held to mark British Sausage Week, which runs from November 1st to 7th. The award is the latest presented to one of Croots’ sausages and follows a one star gold Great Taste Award in 2009 given to its black pudding banger.

Croots Farm Shop & Kitchen, based at Farnah House Farm, Wirksworth Road, is well known for its home-made sausages – selling a range of almost 40, which are on sale on a revolving basis.

During the Sausage Festival on November 6th Croots will be offering around 20 different flavours, including the saucy HP banger that contains a dash of the popular condiment, and the beef and chilli Voldemort sausage.

Tastings will run all day, with 10% off sausages.

The sausage festival has been given a Harry Potter theme to link to the release of the film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows later in November.

Mostly made using free range Packington Pork from Barton-under-Needwood near Burton-upon-Trent, Croots sausages are produced by the shop’s in-house butchers. The farm shop recently extended its fresh meat counter in response to demand.

“British Sausage Week is a celebration of one of the nation’s favourite foods,” said Steve Croot, who runs Croots Farm Shop. “We thought we’d have a bit of fun at our sausage festival and conjure up some interesting flavours.”

The sausage festival at Croots Farm Shop & Kitchen runs from 9am to 5pm on Saturday November 6th.

http://www.croots.co.uk/

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Wednesday, 20 October 2010

Croots Farm Shop scores success in the Observer Food Monthly Awards 2010

Derbyshire farm shop Croots is celebrating after being name-checked in a prestigious national foodie award.
The farm shop near Duffield was runner-up in the Best UK Independent Food Retailer 2010 category of the Observer Food Monthly Awards.
Readers of the national newspaper’s monthly food supplement voted for their favourite independent food retailer – and Croots was one of just nine shops in the UK to be named a runner-up.
It was one of only two in the Midlands to be given the accolade. A further five online independent retailers were also named as runners up.
“To be effectively named as one of the top ten independent food shops in the UK is an absolutely amazing tribute to the staff and everyone at Croots Farm Shop & Kitchen,” said owner Steve Croot, who opened the store at Farnah House Farm, Wirksworth Road, in June 2008.
“We are thrilled that our customers rate us so highly that they are willing to go to the effort of voting for us in such a prestigious award. We can’t thank them enough for this. It’s a true honour and we are absolutely chuffed to bits to get it. I’d like to thank the hard-working staff at Croots for all their efforts in helping to make the shop what it is today.”
The accolade in the Observer Food Monthly Awards 2010 is the latest to be presented to Croots Farm Shop. It has previously been a finalist in the Derbyshire Business Awards 2010 in the Most Promising New Business Category and in the FARMA (National Farmers’ Retail & Markets Association) for Best New Farm Shop Award.
Last November it was also named in The Independent’s top 50 best food shops, when one of the judges said: “Croots is more than a shop, it’s a destination. It’s the perfect place to buy everything you need for a special dinner and literally cook from plot to plate.”
 Recently it won a One Star Gold Great Taste Award from the Guild of Fine Food for its Cow Juice ale, having scooped a Gold Star Great Taste Award for its Black Pudding Sausage in 2009.
The description of Croots Farm Shop in the Observer Food Monthly Awards stated: “Fabulous meat and vegetables, much of which is grown or reared by the owners. Also lovely local Stilton and pates.”
The farm shop is renowned for its home-made sausages and other fresh meat, and has recently extended its fresh meat counter to cater for demand. Croots also features a popular deli counter selling dozens of different cheeses.
It is a passionate supporter of local producers and sells items from 40 suppliers within a 50-mile radius of the shop.
Croots Farm Shop is open 9am to 5pm Tuesday to Saturday and from 10am to 4pm on Sundays (closed on Mondays). Visit www.croots.co.uk for more information.

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