And the winners are...
1. Best Local Food Retailer: Horstead Farming Group, Beeston St Andrew, Norfolk - NATIONAL WINNERS
2. Best Village Shop/Post Office - Otley Village shop, Otley, Suffolk
3. Best Diversification - Yole farm butchers, Balsham, Cambridgeshire
4. Daily Telegraph Best Traditional Business - CWG Ltd - NATIONAL COMMENDATION
Regional Director Alice Barnard, who led the Eastern Regional judging panel, introduces her choices in more detail:
1. Best Local Food Retailer: Horstead Farming Group. NATIONAL WINNERS
North Walsham Road
Beeston St Andrew
Norfolk
NR12 7BY
www.h-f-g.co.uk
01603 424608
This is not your typical farm shop. The main shop is located within a mile and a half of Norwich itself. It is totally accessible to the town being set on a main road and a similar distance to the town centre as the supermarkets. They are passionate about the vegetables they grow. They have a reliable and enthusiastic group of suppliers all of whom are local. But what sets them apart is the desire to teach people where their food comes from, how it is grown and produced and the fact that there is a link between welfare, high standards and buying British. They supply some of the local old peoples homes and schools. They have open days and school parties and the joint owner regularly does a cooking show on the local radio.
2. Best Village Shop/Post Office - Otley Village shop
Chapel Road
Otley
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP6 9NT
01473 890257
Otley PO was originally ear marked for closure. Before the consultation phase began, the owners decided this was one battle they would tackle head on and early. The result was that their PO was removed from the list of potential closures. The PO is the heart of the community. It was very busy while I was there and the customers were keen to talk about the importance of the shop and the post office. It was very well stocked with anything and everything you could ever want to buy! They supply the Tollemache’s regularly with fresh vegetables and bread. All the fresh stock in the shop was local from cakes to sausages. The queue for the post office was constant and the branch is clearly well used. The variety of age groups was obvious from the very young to the old. They also do a home delivery service for the old and infirm in the village.
3. Best Diversification - Yole farm butchers
33 - 37 High Street
Balsham
Cambridgeshire
CB21 4DJ
01223 893832
James bought the business in February and since then has the shop has gone from strength to strength. The meat sold in the shop is predominately his own and his brother's. The shop also stocks fresh vegetables grown locally, pies, sausage roles and Christmas puddings! The shop has enabled James to sustain the family farming business that would otherwise have been under huge pressure. It is a real family effort both James’ mother and father help in the shop. The butcher, Graham, has worked in the shop for over 30 years. The customers love him and he knows exactly what each one normally has. James plans to increase the amount of refrigeration space and he would like to develop the upstairs which is currently in need of restoration. He hopes that he will then be able to let it out to a small local business.
4. Daily Telegraph Best Traditional Business - CWG Ltd - NATIONAL COMMENDATION
Uffington Road
Stamford
Lincolnshire
PE9 2HD
www.cwg.co.uk
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01780 758700
Although CWG itself is a comparatively large company, particularly in comparison to some of the other entries, it is also nurturing a traditional skill. The wool grading arm of CWG is essential to farmers all over the East and Midlands. All fleeces have to be graded before they can be sold. With over 70 types of wool and the accuracy of the grading being paramount as this is what the auction price is decided on they are providing a service that is gradually dwindling. The ‘new boy’ who is now the head grader has been there over 17 years, the team in Stamford have over 100 years grading experience between them. The skill has changed very little and the bulk of the work is still done by hand. The only mechanized part is the packing of the wool in to bundles to be taken to Bradford to be sold.