Staff at a Huddersfield farm shop are celebrating.
The team at Villa Farm Shop based at Bradley won Small Farm Shop of the Year at The National Farmers Retail and Markets Association awards.
And the prize, collected at a ceremony in Wyboston, Bedford, is just the latest in a series of awards for the business which remains a family concern following on from four generations who began as a dairy and poultry farm.
They built up a wholesale delivery business before venturing into retail in1983, initially to sell home-produced live rainbow trout, milk, eggs, cakes and pies.
Since then, the business has expanded to develop an on-site delicatessen and butchery, including fresh meat from local farmers, seasonal game, gold award winning home-made sausages and bacon, made with pork from a local farm and also boasts a 5-star Food and Hygiene rating.
The deli counter showcases pies, cooked meats, baked produce and an ever-expanding cheese selection.
The shop also caters for customers wanting gluten-free products and worked closely with the Coeliac Society, listening to members requirements to source products they had difficulty finding elsewhere.
The FARMA Awards showcase the best farm shops in the UK. Mike Blee (FARMA Judge) said of Villa Farm: “It is a very attractive farm shop full of excellent and knowledgeable staff helping to create a very friendly atmosphere.”
Shop manager Sam Gill said: “We like to describe our shop as a small shop with a big heart and believe that listening to our customers is the key to our success. We aim to make our customers feel at home by stocking the very best of what they want.
“This is a great achievement and is true recognition of our teams hard work. We are absolutely delighted to have won this prestigious national award.”
