Awards
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NEWS RELEASE: THE FARMERS' CART NAMED BEST ON-FARM RESTAURANT IN BRITAIN
Edward Sykes, Nichola Kent, Guy Whapples |
The Farmer's Cart in York has been awarded the title of Best on-farm restaurant by the National Farmers' Retail & Markets
Association (FARMA). The award recognises the increasing number of quality cafes and
restaurants at farm retail outlets, offering friendly service, value for money, and locally
sourced food. The decision was announced at the FARMA national conference on 11 November
2008.
The Farmer's Cart sells the home grown, home made ethos by the wagon-load. Opened in 2001 by the Sykes family, the shop and café proudly offers the farm's own Aberdeen Angus beef, pork, lamb, and free range chickens, plus 50 different soft fruits, vegetables and salads. It can all be seen in the fields approaching the farm shop, and the story is splashed across signage and pictures inside. The team of chefs, butchers, and bakers love using the farm's
fresh produce, which has led to a plethora of products, sold across all departments.
It is this passion for produce, combined with enthusiastic teamwork, which has made
food production at the Farmer's Cart so outstanding. All the staff are entitled to free vegetables, so they can taste the food and advise the customers on how to use it. The café itself
is the end of a close-knit production line, from field to butchery, bakery and kitchen
to create the range of light lunches, breakfasts, Yorkshire cream teas and seasonal
specials featured on the menu.
This holistic way of working helps explain why the business has grown so rapidly - the café alone has moved from 20 covers to averaging 130 lunches a day. Occasions such as Christmas and Halloween are celebrated with specially devised menus and merchandising across the shop, and functions and parties can also be catered for. Beyond the café itself,
the kitchen provides salads, cooked meats, quiches, and tarts for the deli, plus ready
meals, soups, pates and homemade cakes for the farm shop.
Sally Jackson, a former FARMA award winner, was on this year's panel of judges. "I am so pleased that the Farmer's
Cart has been recognised in these National Awards. Honest, home grown produce, combined
with great customer service, is at the heart of what they represent and underlies the
success of their catering. The award is well deserved."
The FARMA awards are the only awards to be peer-assessed by other farm retailers, including previous award winners. An independent mystery shopper report is also available to the judges. The Awards therefore take account of the customer experience while focusing strongly on the farming, management and retail skills demonstrated in the business.
Ends
For more information:
The Farmer's Cart, York, Yorkshire, YO32 9ST
Contact: Edward Sykes Tel: 01904 499183 www.thefarmerscart.co.uk
FARMA, Rita Exner or Gareth Jones: 0845 45 88 420 www.farma.org.uk
Notes to Editors:
The National Farmers' Retail & Markets Association (FARMA) is a 700-strong farmer-owned co-operative that represents and supports direct sales to the consumer in all its forms: farm shops, pick-your-own farms, farmers' markets, box schemes and internet sales.
It sets standards for farmers' markets with an independent inspection and Certification mark to ensure that they are genuine farmers' markets;
and works to improve retailing and marketing skills throughout the industry. The FARMA Awards have
been running since 2002. |
