On Tuesday 25th April specialist retailers, suppliers and the Awards judges came together in person at Farm Shop & Deli Show to celebrate the very best of the sector as the ‘Best in Region’, Newcomer of the Year and overall ‘Retailer of the Year’ winners were announced to a packed audience.

For 2023, the Retailer of the Year Awards, in partnership with The Grocer and supported by Glebe Farm Foods Ltd and Quality Ornamentals Horticultural, recognised specialist retailers who are playing an important role in supporting and developing their team. The judges were looking for what initiatives they have implemented to retain, reward and empower their staff.

The nomination and entry campaign commenced in December and January this year, where consumers and suppliers were invited to nominate worthy contenders, and specialist retailers were invited to enter. From over 100 entries, our judging panel whittled this down to 60 finalists, announced in mid-March.

Judges then evaluated any retailers whose business opened after 1st January 2021 to compile the ‘Newcomer of the Year’ shortlist with an amazing 12 finalists from across the UK including butchers, delicatessens, food halls and farm shops.

Finally, after much deliberation and secret visits, the Best in Region, Newcomer of the Year and overall Retailer of the Year winners were announced to a live audience on Tuesday 25th April. You can see our full list of winners, and some of the judges comments at the end of the release, or by visiting the ‘Winners’ link on the website here.

Nigel Barden, Chair of Judges for the Awards commented: ““For yet another year, our judges had a difficult task drawing up the regional shortlists and winners for this year’s Farm Shop & Deli Retailer Awards, as there was an outstanding number of submissions from across the UK. There were some remarkable entries reflecting how these resourceful and diligent entrants care about their businesses - and their staff. It truly was a privilege to read about them and celebrate them at the winners announcement.”

This year some of the regions were split into small and larger retailers, please see the full list below:

THE WINNERS:

Best Retailer East Anglia - Large

The Goat Shed Farm Shop & Kitchen, Norwich

Judges’ comments:

“Really impressed with the application. Detailed answers with a strong focus on staff and customer experience. Starting small they have successfully grown their business, creating a "family Feeling". Very good staff and customer feedback.” “Great to see success of the new kitchen. Love the inclusion of business vision and values. Best offering to date for team empowerment/reward. Looks welcoming and laid out well.”

“Great to see success of the new kitchen. Love the inclusion of business vision and values. Best offering to date for team empowerment/reward. Looks welcoming and laid out well.”

Best Retailer East Anglia - Small

The Prospects Trust Unwrapped, Ely

Judges’ comments:

“This is brilliant, community and farming based, and changing lives. Deserves an award.”

“A great story. A social enterprise that really cares for their staff and training. Green credentials, refill shop and emphasis on zero waste gives a unique aspect to the shop.”

Best Retailer Midlands - Large

Canalside Farm, Shop & Café, Great Haywood

Judges’ comments:

“Great appraisal system in place and clear team and management roles and responsibilities. Great mental health initiatives. Good evidence of training across all areas and clearly a place people are proud to work at.”

“Very good application to allow us to understand the mechanics of the business. It shows how the pandemic helped like minded businesses to become well known in their community if they were able to make the necessary decisions and changes. Mental health seems to be at the top of every one's list currently and well done for championing this initiative of often a hidden issue. Love the Canalside conversations also.”

Best Retailer Midlands - Small

Broad Bean Delicatessen, Ludlow

Judges’ comments:

“Great community ethos clearly shown in increased support and sales growth. Great mental health program. Great staff discount.”

“Good they allow their whole team to enjoy the FSD to empower their involvement in the store. Allowing staff to undertake external training also very important.”

Best Retailer North East - Large

Yolk Farm, York

Judges’ comments:

“Team are valued. I get the passion in this application. Heart warming testimonials. Informative website & social. Hadn't realised this was Minskip until I started reading/researching! Their journey has been inspirational to watch through judging over the years and their growth/diversification impressive.”

“Ben and Emma's passion for their business shines through, with some really inventive touches to the retail space. Great staff development, with a fantastic working culture.”

Best Retailer North East – Small

George & Joseph Cheesemongers, Leeds

Judges’ comments:

“Excellent cheesemongers. Know their job. Good staff well trained. Growing in confidence as they go along.”

“Strong team support and experience. Happy team & customers. Team photo included, always good. Good website and enticing images for events. Like the innovative tastings for customers with a view to converting to sales.”

Best Retailer Northern Ireland – Large and Retailer of the Year

Cunningham Butchers, Food Hall & Steak House, Kilkeel

Judges’ comments:

“A business that keeps on entering and as always the entry is very good. They seem to have a thorough training scheme in place right across from induction and onwards health and hygiene and apprenticeship scheme with a local training college with already had five apprentices get full-time employment which is exemplary.”

“Despite being a big business I really like the time spent with new employees. The training, induction process and opportunities for learning. It would have been great to hear a few quotes from your team reflecting that.”

“There is is so much going on at Cunninghams, it’s incredible with shops and restaurant and concessions, producing their own butchery bakery ready meals et cetera. There’s no denying that this is a serious business in Northern Ireland and one is always scored very highly in the awards and again this year looks likely to do the same.”

“Steady, strong growth for an already well established retailer operating across multiple sites and stores. Cunningham’s clearly a huge part of their community through a great local approach to colleagues and product sourcing.”

Best Retailer Northern Ireland – Small

Millar Meats and Fine Foods, Irvinestown

Judges’ comments:

“It is a very comprehensive listing of the training policies they work with the staff, which was very enjoyable to read found it quite impressive. Reading what the staff have said in the testimonials is fab to read, flexible working time must be very welcome when you have small children. Also, the supplier testimonial equally was great to read. This sounds like a good business with a great team.”

“I am so impressed with your staff feedback. What a wonderful place to work. It's lovely to see that you realise the importance of the team and the role the play in your business.”

Best Retailer North West - Large

Bells fishmongers ltd, Carlisle

Judges’ comments:

“I think the relationship you have with your team is fantastic and clearly came through in the testimonial. What a wonderful atmosphere to work in. It takes great management skills to empower and inspire your team. This is clearly reflected back in the satisfaction from your customers and your increase in turnover.”

“A great story of growth from an already established business, enhanced via opening of a concession within an existing retail space, which has proved very successful. Colleague engagement and recognition, clearly critical in the current environment, is enhanced through great people focus; pay enhanced by training and development. Sounds like an all round fully engaged business performing very highly and loved by customers.”

Best Retailer North West - Small

Chorlton Cheesemongers Ltd, Manchester

Judges’ comments:

“What a heart warming submission to read. Having only opened in 2020, they have battled on and have had to reduce staff which must have been difficult too. Within their means, supporting staff with training and even training beyond their own business, is a generous gesture.”

“Your shop sounds like a wonderful place to work. The training you give sounds fantastic and you've clearly got a whole team of cheese lovers working with you. I really liked the testimonials from other local businesses you work with, creating a supportive community around your business is as important as customers are. Well done for creating a fantastic business.”

Best Retailer Scotland – Large

The House of Bruar, Perth

Judges’ comments:

“Rarely, if ever, do I give full marks. I have a mental checklist of what I'm looking for in an entry, and remarkably this entry ticked all of them. Staff engagement, training and reward – tick. anecdotal evidence from staff – tick. anecdotal evidence form customers – tick. No fluff! – tick. this is the first entry I've judged this year and boy have they set the bar high! - great entry.”

“Pleased to see that they provide the correct training for all staff members. External training courses offered to current employees to help extend their knowledge is a generous resource and shows they are willing to go the extra mile. A successful and measurable internal training programme, to identify gaps in employees knowledge and performance is also worth noting. Recognising the importance of reducing the carbon footprint and a generous offering here also.”

Best Retailer Scotland – Small

Kj's Bothy Bakery, Grantown-on-Spey

Judges’ comments:

“A good solid entry with good commendations from staff and customer. It feels like this is a close knit team that have a lot of fun. The products look great and gods initiative with the 'bread clubs' all in all a solid entry.”

“It's clear that Kirsten is a force to be reckoned with and a real inspiration to her team. It's these kind of managers who are key to powering up their teams for future growth, so this is great to see. Love how she is open to sharing her expertise and skills in order to bring on staff members, that pay is reasonable for the area, and that the team is trained in every part of the business.”

Best Retailer South East - Large

Macknade Food Hall, Faversham

Judges’ comments:

“Another very strong entry. Lots of ticks in the boxes with supplier, customer and employee endorsement's. Good evidence of employee engagement and development . Great website and innovative café menu.”

“I appreciate the time that management give to their individual members of staff - one to ones can be challenging to get into the routine of, so it's great to know that this is a key part of the staff support at Macknade, offering staff a place to offload and get support if needed, and it's good that they cover mental and physical health as well as financial help.”

Best Retailer South East - Small

The Kitchen Food Company, Oxford

Judges’ comments:

“It really seems as though although this is a new business, the powers that be are really making an effort to go above and beyond on all levels. So smart to partner with more establishes delis to provide training, and the work with Daylesford sounds very exciting. Great staff benefits too, and it's excellent that an appraisal system is in place - it can be very difficult to fit these in regularly, especially during busy times, so the fact that this team are already in this valuable rhythm is impressive. Top marks for employee welfare, too.”

“Wow! Lots of good initiatives around staff development, working with suppliers and other delis. these guys seem to have achieved a lot in a very short space of time. Good endorsements from staff, suppliers and customers. Definitely one to watch.”

Best Retailer South West

Great Cornish Food Store, Truro

Judges’ comments:

“Ticks all the boxes! Confident and justifiably proud of it's achievements especially as the sourcing policy must prove a challenge especially when sitting on a multiples shirt tails. Love the employee ownership, a served winner?”

“This is an employee-owned company, and staff are invested in its success and how it is run. They seem very happy about it. There’s a huge percentage of Cornish produce sold here at 95%, with 40 Cornish cheeses too. Showing steady growth, great attitude towards their ‘staff’ with added benefits and treats. But also very involved in supporting Cornwall too. Lovely coffee story. Cant be easy with Waitrose next door! Worth watching the video on their website. Lovely place.”

Best Retailer Wales

Forage Farm Shop & Kitchen, Cowbridge

Judges’ comments:

“Good to see new job opportunities. Great commitment to team development. Carefully chosen customer reviews across a spectrum of platforms. Love the team photo to support the commitment outlined. Also the video on the website to demonstrate their farming roots, ethics and producer for the farms shop. Very strong entry.”

“Taking on young people to develop their skills, even sponsoring driving lessons for staff members. Good staff training and investment. The shop looks good.”

Newcomer of the Year

Flourish Foodhall & Kitchen, Bristol

Judges’ comments:

“Deeply impressed by the employee care and attention in place, a terrific example of the future of employing people correctly! Lovely shop with plenty of potential.”

“If you were going to open a business and put people at the heart of it yours would be the inspiration. Yours values and ideas are fantastic. People, place and planet, love it! Your branding is spot on and reflects everything you've said in your application perfectly. Well done.”

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