Free Range June

THE MAGAZINE FOR FARM SHOP BUSINESS AND ATTRACTIONS

FREERANGE June 2019

Farm Shop and Deli Show Report FARM DIVERSIFICATION

OUTDOOR FURNITURE

WELCOME TO

FREERANGE

Welcome to the June issue of Free Range Magazine.

In this issue we bring you a report from the Farm Shop & Deli Show, as well as information on indoor play, outdoor furniture, farm diversification and more. For those who subscribe to a printed copy of the magazine - we have combined Free Range, with Holiday Parks Management and International Glamping Business - to create a bumper 84 pages

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of information on rural tourism to inspire you. You can subscribe to receive this in print for just ÂŁ20 a year for 6 issues, via our website www.freerangemagazine.com

Steph Farm Shop and Deli show report Diversification: Becoming integral to farming success

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indoor Play

SLKids: the UK’s Leading play solutions provider For the last ten years, SLKids has worked with multiple venues to create bright, fun & unique play areas for children. The family business creates distinct products that transform every room to a childfriendly space – using simple, natural products.

SLKids understand that no two organisations are alike and that each and every Holiday Park, catering outlet, retailer, or daycare centre has its own identity. Clients from these sectors draw on the SLKids team’s experience to assist them in the development of child friendly solution for their business.

Having the right solution in place can benefit all visitors (especially those with young children) by creating a more relaxed experience so that customers want to stay longer, and, in many cases, spend more money.

SLKids is the sole authorised UK distributor for its primary partner, Instore Kids Corners of Holland. Working together, they have developed a range of equipment

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allowing them to design play concepts for any business.

SLKids play concepts are just as unique as the locations they go into and the children that play in them. SLKids play designers can work with you to create a custom play area that perfectly meets your demands and revolves around your (young) visitors and guests.

One of SLKids’ most recent installations was at Swansgate, which is one of the largest shopping centres in Northamptonshire. Built in the early 1970s, the playcentre was formerly constructed internally. Recognising the need to hire a professional company to create a purpose-built play area, Swansgate appointed SLKids.

SLKids designed a bespoke play area for the children, which provides accompanying adults with more accessibility to be with them. Benches have been provided in the middle which face either way and encourages adults into the area too.

Marketing coordinator for Swansgate, Joanna Chapman said: “The new play area has been a huge hit with families visiting us. There is always somebody in there and barriers between adults and children have been reduced making it easier for them to remain involved with their children who enjoy the space.”

Commenting on the collaboration, Louise Laskey, National Sales Manager at SLKids Commercial Play Products said: “Having discussed the individual requirements, we have been able to create a wonderful children’s distraction area. We are delighted to hear the positive feedback and that the area is being utilised on a daily basis.

“Our main aim with this project was to create a space which would engage the children whilst encouraging parents to get involved in their play. Removing all barriers between the adult and child, we created an interactive, open plan space for all to enjoy and it’s great to hear such positive feedback.” www.slkids.co.uk

outdoorFurniture

Raise your environmental profile with NBB Recycled Furniture Each year consumers purchase approximately 13 billion plastic drinks bottles, and every person in the UK will generate an average of 167lbs of plastic waste.

With staggering figures such as these and plastic pollution in the world’s oceans now clearly visible from space, the demand for organisations to manufacture and provide sustainable products is ever increasing. Hospitality venues around the UK are striving to become greener, not only to benefit the earth but to raise sustainability profiles and meet the demand of environmentally minded visitors.

NBB Recycled Furniture has helped to tackle the issue of plastic waste from entering landfill for the past 25 years, with the production of high quality and visually stunning outdoor furniture made from 100% recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE).

Implementation of NBB Recycled Furniture at your venue is an easy way to raise your sustainability profile and promote your environmental credentials to your guests and supporters. NBB products also offer many more benefits than wooden alternatives, saving you a substantial amount of time and money over the product’s lifespan.

The hardwearing properties of recycled HDPE allow for our products to be left outside all year round without any risk of distortion or damage to the material. It doesn’t matter if it’s the

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hottest summer on record or the coldest ever winter, all products will withstand all weather conditions.

NBB Recycled Furniture will not rot or splinter like wooden alternatives making it a lot safer for your guests. It is resistant to wood boring insects, algae and bacteria that typically cause problems for timber equivalents and can be simply wiped clean when dirty.

NBB Recycled Furniture are so confident in their products that they guarantee them for 25 years. That’s five times longer than most wooden alternatives, saving you heaps of money in product replacement.

Once the furniture has come to the end of its life, it can be recycled again ensuring that the plastic bottles used in its production are never wasted.

To ensure all your guests feel included and comfortable, NBB offer picnic tables that are suitable for use with wheelchairs, mobility aids and pushchairs. They also offer a range of furniture and outdoor play items designed especially for children.

NBB Recycled Furniture have put together special bundle deals for multiple purchases. Delivery is also free on all UK mainland orders. www.recycledfurniture.co.uk

outdoorFurniture Quality Commercial Furniture for Holiday Parks LeisureBench Limited is an industry leading supplier of commercial quality outdoor furniture. Established 15 years ago, rapid expansion has seen the company grow into a major UK supplier. Major commercial establishments have put their trust in LeisureBench over the years, assured that the furniture is designed for strength and longevity to withstand commercial use.

The product range is extensive and is constantly evolving. 55,000 square feet of storage space, guarantees your order will be delivered quickly to you.

The collection of picnic tables can be supplied in ‘A’ Frame or round designs and the heavy duty range is pressure treated for long life.

There are also walk - in picnic tables available that are more user friendly, designed to be easily got in and out of.

LeisureBench can offer this service. For example, they can spray picnic tables to specific colours and brand awnings and parasols. The company has this year announced that they are now UK partners for Litex Parasols and Gazebos. The new stock has further enhanced their wide range of commercial parasols.

To view the full range of commercial furniture from LeisureBench, visit the website on www.leisurebench.co.uk

For an even more comfortable experience, the Oasis Rattan collection of sofas, chairs and tables provide the perfect solution.

For furniture that is easy to move, take a look at the aluminium range.

It is both lightweight and weatherproof. Hardwood dining sets are tough, long lasting and extremely durable, built with timber from trusted and sustainable sources.

The almost maintenance-free Madrid collection is made from highly durable resin made with glass fibre for extra strength and durability. It has the aesthetic appeal of rattan, but will never unravel, rust or decay.

LeisureBench also stock furniture made from 100% recycled plastic, that is weather enduring, anti decay and toxic free. It is also water, mildew and rust resistant.

The Hardwood and metal Dorset range of tables and chairs is suitable for tough environments. The steel frames are welded and then powder coated.

The mix and match range of designer chairs is extensive in a variety of designs and materials and colours, including a retro steel collection.

If you are looking for wooden buildings, there are many features and options available.

A full range of accessories is also stocked, including cushions and heaters.

Bespoke furniture is now on-trend, with many establishments wanting something different and in many instances, more upmarket.

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Clear Cool Offers Ware Washing & Catering Equipment On Small Weekly Rentals Clear Cool, a division of The Rudd Group is taking the hospitality market by storm as it offers ware washing and catering equipment on affordable weekly rental schemes.

Originally just a gaming and amusement machine supplier, The Rudd Group saw a gap in the market for the rental and servicing of back of bar equipment, they now offer a variety of products on rental agreements in a similar fashion to their gaming machines.

If you’re sick of forking out when your ice maker or bottle cooler goes on the blink then a rental agreement gives you perfect peace of mind, just call up the Clear Cool service team and they’ll take care of it.

All of the equipment supplied is from premium quality manufacturers such as world leading Hoshizaki ice makers and UK manufactured Classeq glass and dish washers. They have now diversified further in to Airack glass dryers and commercial pizza ovens.

“We couldn’t believe some of the upfront costs of commercial ware washing and catering equipment and knew there must be a market for venues that would rather rent these necessary items and keep the rest of the money in their business.” – Nick Rudd, MD of Clear Cool.

Clear Cool installs and maintains all of the equipment throughout the lifetime of the contract so no need to worry about your ice maker or bottle cooler breaking down at a key moment. Visit www.clearcool.co.uk or call 0800 7311 026 to see how Clear Cool’s rental model could help you free up time and money in your business.

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FREE RANGE News ADD A LITTLE SWEETNESS TO YOUR LIFE (WITHOUT ANY GUILT) almond, raspberry and strawberry -- to its range of Simply Sugar Free syrups.

The syrups can be mixed into coffees, cocktails, mocktails, shakes and smoothies as well as being an interesting ingredient in baked goods. The new flavours join the company’s existing range, which includes Amaretto, caramel, hazelnut, chocolate, vanilla, gingerbread, and salted caramel. There is also a flavourless option that can be used as an alternative to traditional sugar syrups.

Looking for low-cal, vegan, completely guilt-free drinks? Well, the Italian Beverage Company has added four new flavours – birthday cake, cinnamon,

How does this help farm shops? Well, any agri-business that has diversified into the cafe, restaurant or bar sector (or those looking to) will be well aware that some foods are trendy and some foods are not. Right now, consumers are looking for the same specialty drinks

they're used to but without the calories that traditionally go with them, which the IBC range caters to. Furthermore, the syrups meet the very hot trend of being vegan! In fact, Simply Sugar Free syrups are Vegan approved by the Vegetarian Society.

Ricky Flax, general manager of the Italian Beverage Company said of the new syrups: “So many customers routinely ask for skinny drinks and our Simply Sugar Free Syrups are a great addition to these beverages, making them increasingly popular. Extending the offer with additional flavours gives customers more choice and operators more scope to experiment with the lite menu using a range of products that are current, being less than 20 calories a serving and vegan too.”

Vegan Pie Crowned British Winner — No Longer Just a Pie in the Sky From Sweeney Todd’s less than savoury offerings, to Sing a Song of Sixpence, to a famous wedding in Game of Thrones, pies are very much ingrained in popular culture.

But far from the meat, veg and crust we’re used to, this year a vegan pie was crowned the supreme champion in the 11th British Pie Awards.

Woodhead said this pie had “cracked it,” with a “crispness that complimented” the “moist and well-balanced filling.” A fair win, it would seem, at these awards that came at the end of the British Pie Week, which ran between March 4th and March 8th, celebrating the heritage of this veryBritish dish, according to the publication.

This is the first time in the history of the British pie awards that a vegan product has won its highest accolade and it had to beat out almost 900 competitors from 176 producers to win, according to the Shropshire Star.

This turn of events is sure proof of a changing attitude to meat- and dairy-free products in the mainstream. A sentiment shared by the chairman of the British Pie Awards, Matthew O’Callaghan, who said “This pie isn’t just for vegans, it’s a pie for everybody.

With this award we can truly say that veganism is now entering the mainstream of British food,” according to the Shropshire Star.

The winning pie was made by butcher Jon Thorner’s Ltd and was of curried sweet potato and butternut squash, the publication writes. The makers of the award-winning product have been baking various hand-crimped pies since 2005 after opening their Somerset-based farm shop in 1979, according to the Shropshire Star.

It may not be easy to win over the judges with a vegan entry, but head judge Colin

That said, the meat-eaters of the world have nothing to fear just yet. It seems the UK’s appetite for baked meat snacks hasn’t lost its voraciousness, as evidenced by a Gloucestershire farm’s sausage roll being crowned winner of the first Food Glorious Food competition by the Midcounties Co-operative. The “'sausage rolls of exceeding enormity” secured the farm £10,000 of investment as well as business development support, mentoring and a marketing package.

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FREE RANGE News PROTECTED PRODUCE OF BRITAIN

“Did you know that champagne can only be made in France?” is a fun-fact question the nearly everyone has heard (and is asked at nearly every occasion that calls for a toast).

But, this sparkling wine isn’t alone in its protected status. In fact, that are a host products in the UK that have a similar status.

These products fall under the European Union’s Protected Geographical Status and will be part of one of three schemes: the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) or Traditional Specialities Guaranteed (TSG).

All three schemes were put in place to promote agricultural businesses and traditional production and, more importantly, protect against non-genuine products and maintain regional reputations. This means that inferior (or simply different) products can't purport to be something their not — sparkling wine can’t say it’s champagne unless it is made in that region using designated procedures.

Despite the importance of promoting these traditional products, many consumers aren’t even aware that these schemes exist. Perhaps some will know of the more popular examples, such as Welsh PGI lamb or Scotch beef, but many of their favourite foods could be protected without them ever knowing. Here are just a select few with which to impress your friends: Melton Mowbray pork pies (PGI) — A far cry from fancy wines, but yes, the humble pork pie is protected, requiring a traditional recipe and proximity to, you guessed it, Melton Mowbray.

Traditional Cumberland sausage (PGI) — These, of course, must be made in Cumbria, but beyond that they must contain at least 80% meat and, bizarrely, be sold coiled, rather than linked.

Yorkshire Wensleydale (PGI) — It isn’t just Wallace and Gromit who hold this famed cheese so close to their hearts. It’s protected status means it to be made within a certain geographical area (you can guess which). Moreover, the cows from which the milk to make the cheese comes have to be grazed within that same area.

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and the national ceremony was no exception with Jolly Nice Farm Shop and Cafe taking home the award for Best Rural Food Business.

The awards aim to recognise and celebrate the successes of businesses operating in the UK’s rural economy, and the ceremony ceremony was the culmination of a series of regional awards that were announced last year.

This farm shop, based in Stroud, Gloucestershire, was founded by Rebecca and Simon Wilson in 2013, and has since grown into a team of 50 — with “butchers and baristas, chefs and cheesemongers, as well as expert ice cream makers and cake bakers”, according to their website.

The regional awards saw farm shops across the country get well-deserved recognition,

Other winners included Hillside Brewery, based in Gloucestershire for Best Rural Drink

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Jersey royal potatoes (PDO) — Buttery new potatoes with a little mint? That’s another protection, reserved for the island of Jersey.

Whitstable oysters (PGI) — A little fancier than the winkle-picking of days gone by, but these Kentish oysters are world renowned.

Cornish pasty (PGI) — This one may not come as a surprise, but the specifics might: each pasty must have at least 12.5% beef and 25% vegetables!

There are so many more, but these are just a few to give an idea of the range (and the popularity) of protected products.

So why is this important? Perhaps if we start to educate people about how unique large parts of British agriculture and food production are, they’ll be more inclined to protect and support it. Wolfing down some Wensleydale is all well and good, but do people stop to think that if they stop buying local, this cheese could disappear forever?

So, next time you find yourself raising a toast, perhaps forgo the usual champagne fact and instead ask your friends: “Did you know, Melton Mowbray pork pies can’t be made anywhere else in the world?”

Cornish clotted cream (PDO) — Could anything be more quintessentially British

The Rural Business Awards’ The Rural Business Awards’ national ceremony held in March, showcased the best of the British countryside with winners ranging from hot new brunch spots to the “perfect Hillside brew.”

than afternoon tea with cream scones?

Well, that’s another protected product, required to be produced, processed and prepared from Cornish milk with a minimum of 55% butterfat.

Business; William's Den, based in Yorkshire for Outstanding Rural Diversification Project; Durham Hens Limited, based in Tow Law for Best Rural Retail Business and Fen Farm Dairy Limited, based in Suffolk for Best Rural Manufacturing Business among many others.

Speaking about the awards, Rural Affairs Minister Lord Gardiner said: “I am delighted that so many forward-thinking businesses have been honoured with these muchdeserved awards… From regional start-ups to global logistics firms, it is essential that we recognise the vital role of these organisations in helping to deliver a thriving rural and national economy.”

FREE RANGE News NFU Scotland Calls on More Responsible Dog Walking The United Kingdom loves dogs, there’s no question of that. In fact, an estimated 24% of the UK adult population have a dog, which amounts to around 8.9 million of them!

But, while they can be great companions, they also mean responsibility and the National Farmers Union of Scotland is calling on all owners to control their pets when out on farmland.

The reason is twofold — avoiding attacks on livestock and reducing fouling that can spread disease. Unfortunately, both of these problems are on the rise, according to NFU Scotland, which can have serious implications for farmers and their livestock.

In Spring, there are many lambs in fields which increases the risks of letting dogs run free on farmland, which should never be done. This warning comes at the same time as NFU Scotland’s campaign, Control Your Dog on Farmland, which launched last month to “tackle the blight of irresponsible access

by dog walkers in Scotland’s countryside”.

The core arguments of the campaign, which is aimed at both farmers and dog owners, are to be informed, plan ahead and control your pet.

Being informed includes knowing your responsibilities under the Outdoor Access Code, whether as a farmer or walker.

Planning ahead means knowing the route you’re walking and taking everything you might need, including a lead and poo bags. It is also worthwhile planning for if things go wrong (such as your dog escaping its lead).

Controlling your pet should be considered all the time, but it is especially important when around livestock.

In a survey of farmers, crofters and landowners carried out by NFU Scotland last December, they found that 72% of respondents “had an issue with livestockworrying on their land” while 84% felt that the lead and control measures of the Outdoor Access Code didn’t do enough to protect them and their livestock.

Attacks can be an obvious problem of irresponsible owners, but another overlooked issue is dog fouling. The survey

found that 100% of respondents had an issue with this, including livestock contracting disease from dog waste and plastic bag pollution.

“Attacks on livestock happen all too often in Scotland and we are really pleading with the public to keep their dogs on a lead, avoid fields with livestock if possible and be responsible when walking on farmland,” Andrew McCornick, NFU Scotland President said.

“The industry can no longer tolerate the problem of dog owners who do not control their dogs on farmland. Many people underestimate the damage dogs can do to livestock – whether that is attacking them when being off a lead or causing them to contract dangerous diseases through their poo — we need dog owners to take responsibility for controlling their dogs whilst out enjoying the countryside,” according to McCornick. “Make sure your dog is on a lead when walking on farmland – even if you can’t see livestock they could just be over the hill or hidden in a dip. It’s not worth the risk, to you, your dog or the livestock.”

FARMERS’ MARKETS GET GIVEN A 21ST-CENTURY BOOST Forth Environment Link's NeighbourFood have taken the idea of “click and collect” and applied it to farmers’ markets, allowing consumers to get high-quality, local produce in a convenient way. Now, they have been awarded a considerable EU grant that will mean more click and collect markets across Scotland.

The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development grant of £208,000 will be used to establish eight new weekly markets by 2020.

They will be across the Scottish Borders, Perth and Kinross, Forth Valley and Loch Lomond and Fife — a collaboration between their Scottish Rural Network LEADER programs.

The project aims to boost rural employment, offer small-scale producers a safe route to market and connect shoppers with the people who make or grow food locally. It seems to have been successful since its launch in 2016

with the Sterling local economy seeing a £135,000 boost — most of which went to producers.

And this focus on producers is what differentiated NeighbourFood from larger retailers. “We work with Forth Environment Link to ensure food producers get a fair price for every product sold. Our producers set their own prices and get to keep 80% of sales for every product, compared to 15-25% through supermarkets. The remaining 20% is split equally between the market host and NeighbourFood,” Jack Crotty, director of NeighbourFood, said.

NeighbourFood works by allowing shoppers to register online for free, place an order and then collect it from a central venue, which in Sterling is a local high school. Additionally, producers can sign up to gain another avenue to sell their produce. It gives them direct access to

consumers meaning better metrics to see what people want (and what they don’t) as well as reducing waste by knowing exactly how much produce to take to a drop-off point.

With the new investment, NeighbourFood is on the hunt for eight new market hosts, who will be given funding, training and promotional support to set up the scheme in their own area.

Once the scheme is up and running, hosts receive 10% of sales for ongoing maintenance and to support each weekly collection.

Any interested parties can contact: stuart@forthenvironmentlink.org.

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FREE RANGE News THE SOIL ASSOCIATION RAISE SERIOUS CONCERNS OVER POST-BREXIT US TRADE DEAL 1. Antimicrobial resistance With the increase of antibiotics in general, the risk of resistant bacterial strains has become very real. Experts say that by 2050, 10 million people could die annually from antimicrobial resistance, according to the Soil Association.

This is exacerbated by antibiotic use in agriculture, and its use per animal is five times higher in the US than the UK. A US-UK trade deal could undermine the work UK famers have put in to reduce antibiotic use, eventually resulting in serious public health implications.

2. A ‘race to the bottom’ If British farmers are forced to compete against lower-quality, but cheaper, imports, it could seriously threaten the UK agricultural industry. According to the Soil Association, “this could create a ‘race to the bottom’ and the lowering of standards, including standards of food quality, environmental protection, and animal welfare.”

Concerns were raised following a comment by US ambassador that the EU is a “museum of agriculture.” In response, Soil Association head of policy, Rob Percival, said: “The US ambassador might complain that UK and EU farmers are operating in a ‘Museum of Agriculture’, but the simple fact is that British citizens don’t want the inadequate hygiene standards that result in chlorine-washed chicken, the cruelty of ractopamine-fed pork, or the health risks associated with hormonetreated beef. There is no public mandate for food and farming standards to be sacrificed in pursuit of a US trade deal. The government should offer further reassurance to UK farmers that our food and farming standards will be maintained and improved once the UK leaves the EU, and not undercut by a flood of low quality imports.”

The top ten risks that the Soil Association see with a US-UK trade deal are as follows.

6. Public health and nutrition labelling Nutritional labeling has become a core part of supporting public health in the UK, but the US considers it a “barrier to trade”, as evidenced by their ongoing battle with the EU. A trade deal could result in the slacking off of labeling or even a flood of cheap, ultra-processed foods from the US, negatively impacting UK public health.

7. Genetically modified foods Much like the use of hormones, the way the UK and US treat Genetically Modified foods is vastly different. Public opinion in the UK is generally against GM products in the food supply, whereas in the US, 88% of corn and 93% of soy are GM and products containing GM ingredients are common. And, like ultraprocessed foods, a trade deal could see a flood of US GM foods hit the UK market.

8. Pesticide regulation

If UK farming and food standards slip to compete with the US market, there could be serious barriers to exporting to the EU single market, which has far higher standards. This could have grave consequences for farmers and any food business looking to export to Europe.

Pesticide use has been linked with a decline in biodiversity and insect populations, and a US trade deal could see an increase in their use, which would damage UK wildlife. During the negotiations for the proposed Transatlantic Trade Partnership, the “pesticide industry and lobbyists in the US pushed to lower environmental and health standards.. to promote the use of toxic substances prohibited in the EU,” according to the Soil Association.

4. Chlorine-washed chicken

9. Food poisoning

Due to intensive poultry farming in the US, acid and chlorine washes are used at the end of the meat production chain to remove bacteria. UK citizens seem to be no rush to reduce the quality and standards of their food, but “recent comments from a senior representative of the US government have suggested that the US are ‘sick and tired’ of UK concerns over chlorine washed chicken.” according to the Soil Association.

The UKs high food safety standards means that only 1% of the population is affected by food poisoning annually, compared to 14% in the US. This is something that the majority of the UK population would like to see stay in place, with 82% of respondents to a recent IPPR poll choosing to retain standards rather than strike a US trade deal.

3. Loss of EU market access The Soil association has raised serious concerns about a US Trade Deal post-Brexit, and have put together the top ten risks if it goes ahead including undermining animal welfare standards and risking public health.

carcinogenic. A US-UK trade deal could see steroid-raised beef hitting the UK market.

5. Hormone-treated beef The use of steroid hormone drugs for beef production has been banned in the EU since 1989, but is still accepted practice under the US Food and Drug Administration. The hormones are used to make animals grow faster and bigger, bu recent EU studies have found some of the chemicals used to be

10. Food colourings A 2007 double-blind study found that certain food colouring cause hyperactivity in children, and these additives were subsequently banned in the UK. However, products that contains these colourings — such as Yellow 5 and 6, Red 3 and 40, Blue 1 and 2, Green 3 and Orange B — are still widely available in the US. A trade deal could reopen the UK market to these banned substances.

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Specialist retailers savour another successful

FARM SHOP & DELI SHOW The exhibition hall saw the sector’s leading delicatessens, farm shops, restaurants, garden centres, food halls, butcheries and bakeries in attendance and, for the second year running, announced record attendance as those from across the industry came together to see the hundreds of companies showcasing their best wares.

Many exhibitors have already confirmed their spot on the 2020 show floor including Cook, Dalston’s Soda, Mrs Bridges, Total Produce and Unilever to name just a few. One of the key trends this year is the desire for healthier products and the new Healthy & Natural zone proved extremely popular with visitors and exhibitors alike. The show looks forward to continuing to grow this area and exhibitors such as Seedlip and Projuice are already signed up for 2020.

Here are some of the highlights from this year’s show…

Sustainability cannot be ignored There is so much consumer awareness around plastics, sustainability and climate change and it’s often smaller, start-up brands, like many of those at the Farm Shop & Deli Show, that are in a strong position to act on this. There were some insightful sessions across both Farm Shop & Deli Live and The Ingredients Show Education Theatre covering this topic and, on the show floor, the team from Two Farmers impressed visitors with

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their first hand-cooked crisp brand to launch in 100% compostable bags which take 26 weeks to compost in a home composter and 12 weeks in an industrial facility.

be popular. Farm Shop & Deli Show exhibitor Small Beer Brew Co., is the world’s first brewery to specialise in beers brewed between 0.5% and 2.8% ABV.

Gluten free brands are stepping up their game

Celebrating the best in the business

Gluten free consumers have been demanding better looking and tasting options and at last, the levels of awareness surrounding this have translated into attractively packed, genuinely delicious foods. The show highlighted many gluten free snacks that looked every bit as good as others on the shelves such as Mummy Meagz vegan rocky road, KIND snack bars and Middleton Foods gluten free mixes.

Farm Shop & Deli Show 2019 once again celebrated the specialist retailers at the top of their game with the live finals of Farm Shop & Deli Awards 2019, sponsored by Garofalo Pasta, taking place at the heart of the show.

In addition to the twelve category and nine regional winners announced, Cannon Hall Farm Shop from Barnsley scooped the overall Retailer of the Year 2019 accolade.

Clean eating’s not a fad, it’s expected No-one really talks about “clean eating” any more – but this doesn’t mean it’s gone out of fashion, far from it in fact. At the show visitors encountered many brands with simple ingredients lists and lower sugar content.

From sauces to snack bars and drinks, it was a great demonstration of how far the industry has come.

Low and no alcohol is a trend that’s here to stay If you’re in the industry, you’ll no doubt have heard that young people today are drinking less alcohol. Overall, there has been a real trend for lower alcohol products and even no alcohol with brands like Seedlip continuing to

This April the NEC once again played host to Farm Shop & Deli Show, which ran alongside The Ingredients Show, National Convenience Show and The Forecourt Show. Across the 3 days 8th – 10th April, visitors met passionate producers, discovered the latest industry trends and celebrated awardwinners at this unmissable event for specialist retailers.

Other winners celebrated at the show include the Britain’s Best Loaf which saw Poppyseed Bakery’s Wholemeal sourdough loaf crowned the overall winner. Plus the popular Dragon’s Pantry retuned again this year. Daring entrepreneurs faced the ultimate test pitching new products to the show’s panel of industry ‘dragons’ after initially receiving top tips on perfecting their pitch. This year’s winner was Tom’s Teas with their dessert inspired, delicious quality fruit tea blends for children with no caffeine or added sugar.

Exhibitor Chris Morgan, Business Development Manager, Fentimans Ltd said

of the show: “We have had some great engaging customers who are genuinely interested in our flavours of tonics and soft drinks. We have also been approached by some of the higher profile retailers who have been here for the retail show. There are some fabulous brands at the show and I would definitely recommend the show to any business or brand who want to showcase any new products within the farm shop/garden centres or deli’s and obtain new distribution.”

Show visitor Susannah Hewett, Co-owner, Eggs to Apples Farm Shop said: “It’s a concentrated opportunity to see a number of

people under one roof. It’s great to network with existing suppliers but also to source new products, get ideas to take back and cascade down to the team. Good for networking and also having the baking contest is what’s brought me here today.”

Farm Shop & Deli Show returns 30th March – 1st April 2020 to the NEC, Birmingham and will run alongside National Convenience Show, Food & Drink Expo, Foodex and The Ingredients Show. The combined weight of these five shows next year will bring together 1,700 suppliers representing a huge array of companies and technologies within the UK’s food and drink industry.

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Diversification BECOMING INTEGRAL TO FARMING SUCCESS Uncertainty hangs in the air for farmers across the UK as they brace themselves for what a post-Brexit Britain looks like for the industry. Currently around 60% of farm incomes are supplemented by European farm payments and post-Brexit support is only promised until 2020. From 2021, a new system that rewards farmers for the public goods they provide will be phased in until 2027, replacing the land-based subsidies that are currently in use.

Currently, UK farmers receive around £3 billion a year under the EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP) which is offered based on the amount of land farmed. The new system will see farmers signing environmental land management contracts that show how they intend to protect habitats, improve flood management and enhance air and water quality.

On top of this, tariffs for agricultural imports and exports are liable to change, and probably not for the better, the amount of EU workers who are vital to farms may plummet depending on decisions on free movement, and let’s not even get started on the possible US trade deal.

The point is, uncertainty rules, and farmers are looking for a way to hedging their bets, which is where diversification comes in. Put simply, diversification in farming is scaling back from offering one very large service in favour of offering a larger number of smaller services. These services can range from

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opening a farm shop to sell the produce made on the farm and other local offerings, to setting aside land with which to offer accommodation.

Rankins Farm Owned by Tony and Sarah Sunnock, Rankins Farm is located in Linton Village, Kent. Up until fairly recently the farm spanned 250 acres, most of which was used to farming apples, pears, plums, rhubarb and raspberries. The farm supplied major supermarkets as well as the wholesale market and local farm shops.

During 2006, one of the barns on the farm was converted into what is now known as the Old Wagon Lodge, a two-bedroom cottage that is let out to guests. As of 2018, Rankins Farm now offers a glamping accommodation option in the form of six glamping pods.

Speaking to Sarah Sunnock about when the decision to start offering glamping happened

and why, she said, “We applied for a grant in 2017. Farming just wasn’t adding up, so we sold the majority of the farm and we already had a holiday cottage. Our daughters suggested tourism and glamping, so we decided that with the land that we had left, we’d turn a bit of it into glamping. It was an up and coming thing to do in the area as there aren’t many glamping sites in Kent, so we thought let’s get to it and go.”

Asked about the glamping on offer, Sarah replied, “We have wooden glamping pods.

We’ve got planning for twelve but we have only put six in to start with. They’re all ensuite with underfloor heating, they come with a double bed and a double sofa bed, and all of your cooking facilities. Each one also has a picnic bench area and an outside fire pit/bbq.

We also put in a little playground, a petanque area, and a wooden gazebo with pizza oven for communal use.”

Asked about why they went for glamping pods over other types of accommodation and how they got information about running a glamping site, Sarah said, “We had a little bit of a look around; one of our daughters was at a university in Lancaster, and there were quite a few pods up there so we went and looked at a few which was really why we ended up with a pod and didn’t go for something else such as a shepherds hut or a tent. We also visited a couple of The Glamping Shows as there was a rural payment grant for business and tourism which we applied for and eventually got. But

whilst we were waiting, we were investigating options open to us, which is what led us to the show. But because we had a holiday cottage we had a good idea of what we were getting ourselves into.”

wheat, rye and spelt from the farm into freshly baked bread and other treats.

As of 2018, Manor Organic Farm have started welcoming ‘Little Farmers’ to their farm classroom, where before and after school clubs are run, with school visits and farm holiday clubs also on offer.

The most recent addition to Manor Organic Farm comes in the form of Dirumah For Conscious Living, a store offering eco-friendly products and an alternative treatment room with multiple treatments available.

Manor Organic Farm Manor Organic Farm, located in Long Whatton, is a family-run farm owned by Joanna Herbert-Stepney. Having farmed organically since 1989, the family moved to Manor Organic Farm in 1995 and have certainly made their mark on the place.

The family opened a farm shop that sells all the meat produced on the farm both online and at the shop. A huge amount of products are on offer including organic beef, lamb, pork, chicken, turkey, venison and an award winning range of home-made sausages, burgers and home dry-cured bacons and gammon. Also available are organic vegetables, dairy, groceries, beer and wine and an on-site bakery turns some of the

The owner of Dirumah, Chantal van de Louw told East Midlands Business Link, “I’m delighted that what started as a shop and therapy room last December has already become a creative and spiritual centre from which I run and co-host workshops, alongside the five therapists who provide their own treatments,”

Moving forward, diversifying the services offered at farms is going to become integral to success. With so much uncertainty it is safer for farms to offer a number of smaller services as opposed to just one very large one.

While the move away from farmed-land based subsidies to a public goods-based system may seem like the UK Government asking more from farmers for potentially smaller returns, there are some positives to

the change. Under the current system, the top 10% of recipients receive almost half of the total payments, whereas the bottom fifth only receive around 2%. This means that very large-scale farms are receiving the majority of the money, whereas small scale, often family-run farms, who are far more in need of the funding are receiving a lot less.

The move away from farms being rewarded for how much land they use to farm is what is driving diversification as a possible solution.

Owners are now looking for the most profitable ways to use the land at their disposal without having to worry about the loss of subsidies.

This is leading to more and more farms to look for alternative sources of income coming in the form of farm shops and cafes, alternative but related businesses located on-site, and the ability to offer accommodation.

For many farmers, Glamping offers the perfect way to quickly and easily start offering accommodation to guests on-site.

Due to the structures associated with the pastime, start-up costs are very small compared to more traditional brick and mortar offerings. The time it takes to install the structures is also far less than other accommodation types, and due to the growth of popularity in Glamping over the past decade the amount of options out there when it comes to choosing what it is you want on your farm is bigger than ever.

FREERANGE

June 2019

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