Ludlow's Food Centre nets top UK award for its farm shop (From Ludlow Advertiser)
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Ludlow's Food Centre nets top UK award for its farm shop
2:22pm Friday 15th February 2013 in News
From left: Tom Hunt, marketing manager, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Edward Berry, managing director.
A LUDLOW business has been awarded for having one of the best farm shops in the country.
The Ludlow Food Centre, in Bromfield, on the Earl of Plymouth’s Oakly Park Estate, was voted UK Farm Retailer of the Year 2013 at this week’s FARMA (The National Farmers’ Retail and Markets’ Association) Awards.
Presenting the awards was food hero and River Cottage star Hugh Fearnley- Whittingstall who has been a member and patron of FARMA for many years.
Ludlow has long been associated with quality food but this is the first time the award has come to Shropshire. It takes in to account all aspects of the retail experience, the quality of the food and the level of commitment to sourcing locally.
The Food Centre’s managing director, Edward Berry said: “To win this award is the highest honour in our sector.
“It is testament to the passion and quality of our staff, the food they produce and the local food made by artisans in this region.”
The Food Centre, which opened in 2007, has eight glass fronted production kitchens include a dairy, butchery, jam and pickle kitchen, bakery, coffee roasting room and an ice-cream parlour.
To run these kitchens, the shop and restaurant the business employs over 80 local people and sources more than 80 per cent of its produce from Shropshire and the surrounding counties of Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Powys.
In March it opens Ludlow Kitchen, a new cafe and restaurant.
