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NEW COMPETITION for 2007
Nominations are open now (until 2nd October 2007) for your favourite Rural Retailer. If you want to know what the Competition Organisers are looking for - visit their Guidelines Page here...
This extract of their Guidelines gives a flavour: “These are merely guidelines, not an exhaustive list, and please remember that the two "tests" of this competition are "community values" and "commitment to produce or skill". Also remember that it is the quality of the nomination that will initially catch our eyes, so "I nominate Bob because his sausages are the best" won't really cut it - tell us why Bob's sausages are the best - is it because they are made from locally reared, locally slaughtered pigs, or is it because Bob tries different recipes and takes sausage-making to a whole new level? We want to know about our retailers and what they do - we want to hear about them as three dimensional characters who are contributing to rural life.”
Winners in the 2006 Competition
Best Local Food Retailer
Winner: Foxbury Farm Shop and Butchery, Brize Norton, Oxfordshire
Commended: Rhug Organic Food Shop, Corwen, Denbighshire
Best Village Shop/ Post Office
Winner: David Carr, Longframlington, Northumberland
Commended: Abbotts Ann Village Shop, Abbotts Ann, Hampshire
Daily Telegraph Best Traditional Business
Winner: Alexander James of Pendlebury (outfitters), Greater Manchester
Commended: Cold Hanworth Forge, Cold Hanworth, Lincolnshire
Best Diversification
Winner: Langthorne's Buffalo Produce, Northallerton, North Yorkshire
Commended: Low Sizergh Barn, Sizergh, Cumbria
The 2006 competition has captured the imagination of thousands of people across the UK: it has delighted nominated retailers' communities, it has fuelled competitive spirit for those hoping to go one better next time, it has provided a way for customers to pay tribute to their retailers and, most importantly, it has shone a light on a group of hard-working rural people who never look for praise, but richly deserve it.
2006-2007 Best Rural Retailer Story - South East Regional Winners
The regional judging phase of the 2006 Best Rural Retailer is now complete and we are very pleased to announce our regional winners in the four categories:
- Best Local Food Retailer Fanny's Farm Show, Merstham, Surrey
- Best Shop/PO Sedlescombe Village Stores & Post Office, Sedlescombe, East Sussex
- Best Diversification Fisher Farm Park, Wisborough Green, West Sussex
- Daily Telegraph Best Traditional Business S W Doughty, Butchers, Doddington Kent [and Farmers Weekly award winner for Food Miles .... excellent news for the quality of meat and sustainability of our planet!]
The regional winners will now go through to the National final, whose judging panel is led by Alliance Chief Executive Simon Hart and includes Zac Goldsmith - editor of The Ecologist, Dr Stuart Burgess - Chairman of Commission for Rural Committees, Simon Heffer - Associate Editor of The Daily Telegraph, Mike Stones - Deputy Editor of Farmers Weekly and Alexia Robinson - Director of British Food Fortnight.
The Daily Telegraph will announce the winner of its Best Traditional Business category in its Weekend section on 3rd February 2007. The other three category winners (Best Local Food Retailer, Best Village Shop/ Post Office and Best Diversification) will be announced at the House of Lords reception February 2007.
2005-6 Campaign
With so many people agreeing, the regional finalists for the South East must be worth considering if you are near to them.
The national winners of the Best Rural Retailer were announced recently at a reception in the House of Lords. The winners were Weetons of Harrogate (visit their website), but the judges praised the overall high standard of entrants.
The SE judges were very impressed with all four of our county finalists, and each one is well worth seeking out if you are in the vicinity. Our winners, Linklaters of Rolvenden, were exceptional in their service to the community. SW Doughtys (visit their website), the family-run butchers in Doddington, were highly commended due to their links with many local food-producers, and the range of products stocked in addition to their high-quality meat and prize-winning sausages. Fanny’s Farm Shop (visit their website - and learn about tea amongst so much else!) near Merstham in Surrey was a wonderful place run on very eco-friendly principles; growing vegetables and flowers themselves and again sourcing local produce. Last but not least, Swain’s Farm Shop near Woodmancote, Surrey, had a breathtaking range of produce, beautifully fresh and sourced locally wherever possible. Their staff were exceptionally knowledgeable and friendly, and there were even pigs, goats and Shetland ponies to keep the children amused. If you are not close to any of these, why not seek out your own local farm shop or farmers market, and don’t forget to support your village shop when you can. Seasonal produce with no ‘food miles’ attached, a friendly face and the knowledge you are benefiting yourself and your community – you can’t go wrong!
Farmers Weekly Article : Countryside Alliance Article
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