UK’s best farm retailers announced in awards

The best farm retailers in the UK have been revealed this week.

Winners were selected in the prestigious Farm Retail Awards, organised by the Farm Retail Association (FRA) which was formed 45 years ago to support the industry.

Awards were presented by Derbyshire dairy farmer and after dinner speaker, Peter Slack, to outstanding farm retailers at the event (sponsored by specialist retailer COOK). The awards were this year held at the Holiday Inn, Peterborough West, as part of the FRA’s annual Stronger Together event, 2024.

The Farm Retail Awards are the only awards judged by fellow farm retailers, and celebrate the best farm shops, farm cafés and restaurants, farmers’ markets and trade suppliers in the country. The 2024 award winners are:

Large Farm Shop of the Year: Farmer Copleys, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, sponsored by Cunninghams EPOS Group

Small Farm Shop of the Year: Alder Carr Farm Shop, Needham Market, Suffolk, sponsored by The Cress Co

Farm Café/ Restaurant of the Year: Runcton Farm Café, Chichester, West Sussex, sponsored by Arrange Spaces

Farm Shop Butchery of the Year: Welbeck Farm Shop, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, sponsored by Angel Refrigeration

Rising Star of the Year: Runcton Farm Café, Chichester, West Sussex, sponsored by Fieldfare

Pick Your Own of the Year: Farmer Copleys, Pontefract, West Yorkshire

Farmers’ Market of the Year: Barnard Castle Farmers Market, Barnard Castle, Co. Durham, sponsored by Dole

Associate Member of the Year: Fresh Retail Group LTD

Lifetime Achievement Award: Janet Harrison, Abbey Leys Community Farmers Market, sponsored by CSY Retail Systems Ltd

FRA chair Emma Mosey said, “Congratulations to all of our winners whose dedication and passion is reflected in the standard of their businesses. We thank them for their commitment to the industry which they help to grow and thrive.”

The award ceremony is part of a three-day annual FRA conference which includes farm shop tours, an AGM, expert guest speakers and topical workshops.

The FRA management board thanks the event sponsors for their support. These include overall awards sponsors COOK, conference sponsor, The EPOS Bureau, as well as all the individual award sponsors. The FRA is open to thousands of independent retailers across the UK and offers its members support, training, workshops and open days.