Blog - Fabulous Farm Shops

fabulous farm shops press release december 2020

14/12/2020 | 0 Comments

IN SUPPORT OF R.A.B.I

.Fabulous Farm Shops, the one stop farm shop directory lists every farm shop in England
and on entering lockdown, the team at Fabulous Farm Shops were acutely aware of the
impact and the damage Coronavirus would have on, not only the small independent farm
shops, but the farming community and their families.

Wanting to do their bit the team actively encouraged farm shops to add live links to their
listing on their directory. This upgrade allowed farm shop owners to add extra information
about their farm shop for a year and 100% of this upgrade was donated to RABI.

R.A.B.I.–The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution is farming’s oldest and largest charity
and have served the farming community since 1860, offering financial support, practical
care and guidance to farmers, farmworkers and their dependants.

Claire Mortimer, a partner of Fabulous Farm Shops, said: ‘We had to move quickly, of
course we wanted to help farm shops, but we really needed to give something back and to
support our farmers, Covid hit R.A.B.I hard and they needed our support more than ever’

RABI Communications Manager Rob Harris quotes:
“We greatly appreciate the efforts of Fabulous Farm Shops and the farm shops who
supported us. Over many months they’ve taken the time and trouble to raise awareness of
our work, as well as donating a significant sum of money. We’re extremely grateful to Claire
and her team for all they’ve done on our behalf.”

To date, the total amount raised is £665.00

Product Review – Bumble Wrap

10/12/2020 | 0 Comments

Having received a beautiful package from Bumble Wrap we were all rather excited to try
these environmentally friendly, plastic-free, food wraps.
Located in York, this incredibly enthusiastic and passionate company have created a
vibrant and versatile range of handmade, 100% cotton and beeswax food wraps that will
not only keep your food fresh but are non-toxic & 100% biodegradable too!

But, before we even try these eco-friendly wraps, it’s pretty amazing to know that Bumble Wrap are helping towards a sustainable world by creating this natural alternative to cling film that you can wash and reuse time and time again.

Bumble Wraps are mouldable, so even odd-shaped foods can be wrapped meaning you can use them in a number of different ways, there’s even have a ‘how to’ section on Bumble Wraps website where you’ll find simple instructions on how to make the most effective sandwich wrap or even a gift box!

One of our team has recently had a baby and felt Bumble Wrap’s snack pouch would come in very handy in the future when she’s out and about with her baby, not only because it’s
completely natural, but pliable too and so easy to clean and reuse.

The team particularly loved the Bumble Bee design as it plays on the nature of the product reminding us that we are helping the world by using it.
There’s a Bumble Wrap for every occasion and
these not only come in a wide range of designs but
sizes too.
From large loaf sized wraps to dinky jam pot or
bottle covers, there’s a suitable size to cover any
requirement!

Bumble Wraps would make a thoughtful and thought provoking gift to give to your friends & family and are sure to be well used during the festive season.

The teams final say is… we’re converted!
After trialling Bumble Wraps, we agree that there’s absolutely no need for single use plastic
food coverings, so we’re ditching the cling film and making the change!
You should too.

Thank you Bumble Wrap!

Featured Producer – Bumble Wrap

24/11/2020 | 0 Comments

Wave goodbye to clingfilm!

Yorkshire based Bumble Wrap have created the most beautiful, plastic-free food covering
by using 100% cotton, beeswax, tree resin and a drop of jojoba oil.

These completely natural, washable, re-useable AND compostable wax wraps eliminate
the need for single use cling film and tin foil and will keep your food fresher for longer
meaning less FOOD WASTE!

Ditch the plastic

Being 100% biodegradable and with zero contaminants or toxins, eco-friendly Bumble
Wraps are the natural alternative to single-use plastic and by swapping your plastic wrap
for Bumble Wraps is one small (but amazing) step towards living a more sustainable
lifestyle.

Wrap. Wash. Reuse.

The jojoba oil gives Bumble Wrap greater flexibility and even has antifungal properties,
whilst the rosin adds the ‘stick’ we are familiar with from cling film.
But the biggest buzz about Bumble Wrap beeswax food wraps is they’re reusable, simply
wash in cool soapy water and air dry ready for next time.

Bumble wrap Beeswax food wraps can be used to wrap or cover most foods, so a few
simple folds and a pinch at the corners will keep your sandwiches fresh. Use the warmth of your hands to seal as you fold over leftovers from last nights dinner…

From pretty ditsy florals and bold stripes to traditional Christmas themes.
Bumble Wraps are available in a fabulous range of patterns and sizes.

There’s so many different ways to use your Bumble Wraps.
Whatever your needs, Bumble Wrap has it well and truly covered!

bumblewrap.co.uk
info@bumblewrap.co.uk

Product Review – Ebdon Firewood

26/10/2020 | 0 Comments

Located in Somerset, family run Ebdon Firewood Ltd supply kiln dried and seasoned hard
wood logs, kindling, eco logs & firelighters and the ethos of this fabulous company is to be
as environmentally conscious as possible.
The team at Fabulous Farm Shops had a right old burn up this week after we received
Ebdon’s NEW ‘handy’ bags of firewood along with Ebdon’s kindling and natural
firelighters…

Firstly and importantly, Ebdon’s firewood is Woodsure accredited (the UK’s ONLY
woodfuel quality assurance scheme) which means you can be super confident that all the
firewood supplied by Ebdon is top-notch, high-quality wood and nothing else!

Have you always struggled to light a good fire?
I have and appreciate there’s a knack to it but never questioned it could be the quality of
the wood that I was using. So, I’ve spent many disappointing hours poking and blowing but never have I managed to copy the iconic roaring fire I’d always hoped for.

So when I was asked to try Ebdon’s wood, kindling and firelighters, I thought, hmmm…I’ll
give it a good go but I’m not holding my breath! It’s just wood, right?

I began like I always do by using a handful of kindling and then added a couple of Ebdon’s
dried logs, lit a firelighter, popped it between the kindling and wandered off. So used to
the disappointing and time wasting fires I usually create, it didn’t occur to me that this
would be any different!
Within minutes, I was being congratulated by the family for the wonderful roaring fire I
had taken time to make and how warm and cosy the living room felt!
Of course, I couldn’t accept the compliment’s…clearly this was all down to Ebdon’s quality
wood. So impressed I am, that I’ve ferreted away enough for Christmas Day.

I was expecting to get a heady rush of fumes when
opening Ebdon’s natural firelighters and was
pleasantly surprised and a little dubious that these
brilliant little bundles of wood wool burn for up to
10 minutes and are not only odourless but
smokeless too!

We all love the fact that Ebdon avoid single use plastics and instead use jute sacks.
These jute sacks are 100% biodegradable, recyclable and reusable and with 50p off their
next Ebdon purchase, will certainly encourage customers to return to your farm shop.
We believe that Ebdon’s smaller ‘handy’ sized jute sacks of firewood are pretty darn perfect if you’re short on suitably dry, storage space.

If you’re interested in stocking excellent quality firewood, you can email Ebdon
Firewood HERE

www.ebdonfirewood.co.uk

If you have a farm shop product & fancy a review, get in touch with The Team!

Product Review – Purbeck Ice Cream

18/10/2020 | 0 Comments

I’m familiar with Purbeck Ice Cream as I’ve stumbled across this brand on numerous
occasions, be it at the local theatre or offered at my regular seaside haunts. However, I was
unaware that this Dorset based company is actually a husband and wife team and they’ve
built this incredible business on their farm, creating their luxury ice cream in a range of
some seriously fancy flavours!

If you’ve had the pleasure of trying any one of Purbecks real dairy ice creams, you’ll know
that this gourmet ice cream is far from regular tasting premium ice cream and by using
fresh and locally sourced milk and all natural ingredients, Purbeck Ice Cream is suitable for
vegetarians.

Beautiful Flavours to Temp & Tantalise

There’s over 40 flavours including limited editions and sorbets available… from the classics
such as Vanilla Bean, Rum & Raisin and Clotted Cream to Stem Ginger, Salted Caramel,
Chrimbo Pud and the novel Jurrasic range. Yep, there’s something to suit any taste.

As we have a vegan among us, the team decided to review one of Purbeck’s new range of
REAL FRUIT Sorbets and we concurred, Purbeck’s Mango sorbet is quite simply, out of this
world!
Made with fresh Dorset water and natural fruit juices, this vegan sorbet is exceptional.
Scoopable straight from the freezer, this is not only thirst quenching, it’s wonderfully
refreshing, quickly melting in the mouth and clearing the palate with it’s perfectly crisp and
clear taste of fresh Mango. By tweaking their recipe, Purbeck have reduced the sugar in
their high quality Sorbets and in turn this brings the juicy flavour of the fruit to the
forefront.
Once we began scooping, I can assure you that our 500ml tub lasted all of 3 minutes!

Purbecks multi award-winning range of ice cream & sorbet’s are in fully recyclable
packaging and not only offer their fab range in retail, individual tubs, but catering
and scooping tubs too!

If you have a farm shop product and fancy a review, get in touch!
theteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk

Product Review-Blackthorn Salt

11/10/2020 | 0 Comments

The humble condiment, salt, is a staple of every kitchen cupboard but Blackthorn Salt is
not only completely natural, it’s totally unique, relying solely on the forces of nature; the
wind, sun and sea.

Just take a look at this magnificent structure!
This incredible Graduation Thorn Tower was built from scratch by Blackthorn Salt using
sustainable and responsible materials on the West Coast of Scotland and is the only salt
tower in the UK and not only that, it’s the only tower in the WORLD to produce salt!
Impressive huh?

This ancient & environmentally friendly process begins with seawater slowly trickling
down through the enormous thorn tower whilst the wind evaporates excess water. The
skill and expertise of Blackthorn’s Salters tease temperature to ensure the sea water
evaporates precisely.

The time and labour that goes into producing this superb artisan salt shows in the slight
tinge derived from the Blackthorn bark. The impressively large flakes gave us the crucial
crunch we were hoping for and the wonderful tangy, sweet and yet mellow sea water
aftertaste is simply divine. When adding these beautiful flakes to our ‘culinary dishes’ we
found them to not only add a perfectly pure smooth saltiness, but also when requiring
them to crumble to a fine smooth salt, they did just that!
When sprinkling on our finished dish, it looked like crystal and you could almost see the
glistening of the sea.
We even caught one of the team eating this NEAT!… that’s a weird one, but she professed
these salt flakes just melted on the tongue.

Blackthorn Salt is truly unique…

…created from 100% sea water & nothing else!

Top chefs have already chosen to experiment with Blackthorn Salt and these wonderful,
moreish flakes come into their own when used as a finishing salt, for bespoke cheeses,
within charcuterie or sprinkled on desserts and cocktails.

Even Blackthorn’s handsome packaging box has been well thought out. Using no plastic
and with a closable lid to keep your salt dust free, this sturdy and attractive box is
perfectly ‘hand sized’ so you can easily dip in and out when you’re cooking.

Discerning farm shops wishing to stock a high quality, 100% natural and sustainable salt should enquire HERE

blackthornsalt.co.uk

If you have a farm shop product and fancy a review, get in touch with
theteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk

Featured Producer – Blackthorn Salt

29/09/2020 | 0 Comments

Look at this magnificent structure!
This incredible thorn tower is the first and only tower to be built in the UK and the only thorn tower in the WORLD to produce salt!

Blackthorn have revived the ancient Graduation Thorn Tower technique by gathering
seawater, then letting it trickle gently down and through a large wall of thorns packed with
bundles of blackthorn. These first stages rely only on the forces of nature; the sun, wind and sea.

Unlike any other salt, the Blackthorn Salt flavour profile retains a strong, confident saline echo of the sea,

Blackthorn salt has a certain depth and mellowness with a natural echo of the sea
natural

Blackthorn salt is unique!

chefs and restaurants – such as the Fife
Arms, Garry McLean and James Golding of The Pig Hotel Group as well as many others
– have already chosen to experiment with Blackthorn, using it to finish off a bespoke
cheese, incorporate into specialist charcutarie, add detailed taste notes to intracte
deserts and cocktails, allowing it to delve deep into the marbleing of aged beef and for
floating on gaspacho as well as using Blackthorn as their overall finishing salt.

Everyday we look for more ways to lessen our environmental footprint and we are
proud that our Thorn Tower method evaporates 90% of the seawater – purely due to
the wind and sun working their magic – and uses 85% less energy than the usual
applied heating methods. When the concentration of the remaining liquid is salty
enough, we gently warm it in the panhouse to draw off the crystals by hand: it is a
patient process – all about making the best we can.

Blackthorn is proud to have brought salt making back home to the West Coast of
Scotland where it was once such a thriving local industry. Our methods and means
may be very different from our forebearers’, but we would like to think they would be
proud and amazed by everything that is Blackthorn Salt today. We also look the future
and are always striving to improve. We are particularly proud of our plastic-free wee
box: the perfect size for dipping your hand in, it also ensures that the precious salt is
kept dust free and stored attractively after opening. Our ethos is always to be the best
we can be, absolutely in terms of taste, but also crystal quality – that ‘crucial crunch
factor’ – and in our attitudes and methods.

www.blackthornsalt.co.uk
info@blackthornsalt.co.uk

Product Review – Chapman’s Seafoods Haddock Bakes

27/09/2020 | 0 Comments

Fabulous Farm Shops and our team of reviewers have been lucky enough to have
come across Chapman’s Seafoods before, in fact we’re quite familiar with their award-
winning and pretty darn fabulous range of fish and aside from their famous,
handmade fish cakes, wellingtons and shellfish, we had an absolute bonus this week
when Chapman’s Haddock Bakes came up for review!

Arriving frozen and in packs of two, Chapman’s Haddock Bakes consist of a generous
fillet of haddock topped with a delicious Broccoli, Leek & Cheese sauce and coated
with crushed crunchy croutons.

The rich haddock flavour, paired with the tasty, unique and creamy sauce makes this
succulent bake nothing short of scrumptious. The crunchy, crumbly croutons simply
add the finishing touch to a marvellous dish and there was not a speck left on our
plates!
The mm’s and ah’s were coming from all and it was a 10/10 from us!

Just pop this bake into the oven for 30 minutes and hey presto, you have yourself a truly
irresistible and impressive meal. Chapman’s have done all the work for you and made
it so easy, anyone can cook this!

From fish bakes to fish cakes,
Chapman’s offer a fabulous range of ready meals!

Chapman’s use the best quality fish & ingredients in their range of products and that’s
plain to see (and taste) they’re also proud to be part of the rich fishing heritage that
Grimsby is famous for.
With their strong values & superb quality, Chapman’s offer a truly scrumptious &
utterly unique range of handcrafted fish & seafood dishes.

Chapman’s FAMOUS gourmet, handmade & AWARD-WINNING fish cakes!

You can buy Chapman’s range direct HERE and stock up your freezer.
Farm shops considering stocking Chapman’s (who, by the way will support you with a wide range of marketing material INCLUDING branded freezers) enquire HERE

If you have a farm shop product & fancy a review, get in touch with
theteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk

Product Review – Margot & Montañez

20/09/2020 | 0 Comments

Alfajores are a traditional South American cookie usually filled with indulgent Dulce de
Leche however…by combining an authentic (50 year old) family recipe, artisan
producer Margot & Montañez, have recreated these wonderfully soft, dainty and
delicate biscuits with some innovative, inspiring and surprising flavour combinations.

Within their current range, Margot & Montañez offer four mixed boxes and each box
includes 6 midi Alfajores-3 each of two delightful flavours.

Margot & Montañez’s mission is to bring a redefined version of South American sweet indulgences to everyone.

We began our review with Margot & Montañez‘s traditional & iconic South-
American version of Alfajores which are filled with indulgent Dulce de Leche, a rich
and delicious caramel cream and then rolled in coconut.
These gourmet cake sandwiches are indulgently buttery, delicate and crumbly.
An ideal sweet treat to enjoy with your afternoon tea or coffee.

It was a big thumbs up from our reviewers as we all loved Margot & Montañez creamy
gourmet Alfajores, quite the perfect balance of salt & sweet and gave us that exquisite
and luxurious, melt in the mouth experience.
By using high-quality ingredients ensures the paring of the richness of the Dulce
de Leche and the Salted Caramel is no less than divine.

Margot & Montañez’s fruity combo’s of tangy lemon & lime and raspberry and white
chocolate Alfajores will offer a surprising new twist to your taste buds. The Lemon
& Lime Alfjores are even rolled in lime coconut making them super-sweet, creamy and
wonderfully zingy, they’re so light and crumbly but contain absolutely NO
preservatives, are naturally gluten-free and vegetarian too!

Raspberry & White Chocolate Alfajores are filled with raspberries and white chocolate
buttercream making this a light, refreshing delectable biscuit infused with a sweet and
sharp raspberry hit.

The nutty range consists of Hazelnut Ganache & Pistachio and Orange, Chocolate &
Almond Alfajores.
The generously filled, rich Dark Chocolate Orange Alfajore is incredibly moreish…and
with the added flaked Almonds you need only one of these nutty, buttery handcrafted
beauties to get your sweet fix!

If you’re wanting to indulge even further, maybe impress your dinner party guests then
we recommend Margot & Montañez’s Hazelnut Ganache & Pistachio Alfajores.
Filled with delicious hazelnut ganache and rolled in crushed pistachios, these velvety sophisticated and delicate biscuits are an exceptional after dinner treat.

Margot & Montañez’s artisan Alfajores would serve very well as a gift, they’re
wonderfully presented in a very attractive box.

Also available is Coco Dulche de Leche Brownies and Dulce de Leche Cake.

Trade enquiry? Please email HERE

If you have a farm shop product and fancy a review, get in touch with
theteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk

Product Review – Exmoor Distillery

6/09/2020 | 0 Comments

Located in Exmoor, husband and wife team John & Nicola Smith, launched Exmoor
Distillery back in January 2018 and have not only turned their passion (and hands) into producing small batch, premium gins but, even in their relatively short life, have
been recognised AND awarded for their handcrafted gins by seasoned experts in
worldwide spirits competitions.

The Fabulous Farm Shop team had a very special delivery this week & the immense
pleasure of sampling and reviewing Exmoor Distillery’s gins. Yes, it’s a tough job but
someone’s got to do it!

DOUBLE GOLD was recently awarded to BOTH Northmoor Classic Gin & Northmoor Navy Strength Gin by The San Francisco World Spirit Competition, one of the world’s most prestigious spirit competitions.

Exmoor Distillery currently have two gins in their range, Northmoor Classic Gin &
Northmoor Navy Strength Gin and as it was a school night, we began with Exmoor’s
‘flag ship’ Classic Gin.

Firstly, and importantly, we feel the branding and packaging of Exmoor’s bottles is
definitely worth a mention. Each bottle of Northmoor Gin is carefully bottled and
labelled in house. Classy, traditional and very British are just a few of the comments
our tasters made.

Only the very best berries & botanicals are sourced and handpicked for Northmoor
Classic Gin which makes this a premium quality and complex artisan gin, incredibly
smooth (although it IS punchy with 44% ABV) but light on the lips, citrusy and quite
simply divine when mixed with a good quality tonic.

We tried this with a garnish, a simple slice of orange and the result was superb,
probably a bit too moreish…!

Now if you’re a REAL gin lover (who isn’t?) we think you might want to add Exmoor
Distillery’s Navy Strength Gin, 57% ABV, to your hit list…

Exmoor have created a unique recipe using a carefully selected mix of 12 botanicals
to make their multi award-winning Navy Strength Gin.
From coriander, angelica root and lemon, to cinnamon, elderberries and sweet orange,
this strong earthy gin will separate the men from the boys, so to speak!
Serve over ice or with a slice or… perhaps use this as the key ingredient for a deep and strong, cocktail?
It’s seriously full of flavour, incredibly bold and yet exquisitely smooth.
An exceptional & irresistible gin, available in both 35cl and 70cl

If you’re looking for a great gift idea, Exmoor Distillery offer beautifully presented gift
boxes containing 3 x 5cl Northmoor Classic or Navy Strength Gin or perhaps you’d like to treat a gin loving friend to an award-winning (70cl) bottle of artisan gin packaged in
an attractive gift box?
All of Exmoor Distillery’s wonderful handcrafted gins are available to buy online in
35cl or 70cl bottles as well as branded copa, hi-ball and tumbler glasses and
quarantine specials!

If you’re a farm shop and keen to stock Exmoor Distillery’s award-winning gins, you
can contact them HERE
Keep a close eye on Exmoor Distillery as they continue to grow!
Exciting future plans involve distillery tours and even branching into rum and other
spirits.
www.exmoordistillery.co.uk

Featured Producer – Chapman’s Seafoods

30/08/2020 | 0 Comments

Want to stock a product with a proven sale record and an eighteen month shelf life?

Chapman’s have been supplying independent retailers for over thirty years and whilst we understand the need to be constantly re-inventing products and their presentation
to appeal to an ever changing customer driven marketplace, we like to think good old
fashioned product quality and service will always be appreciated.

The Chapman family have been involved in the Seafish industry for several generations. Based in Grimsby in North-East Lincolnshire, our knowledge and experience is invaluable in all aspects of our business.

Central to the Chapman’s success story has been the late Mavis Chapman and her closely guarded recipes for her inspirational Fish Cakes. Like many Grimsby housewives she had her own special recipes for making traditional Fish Cakes from the
fish that her husband Terry would bring from work. Mavis understood the principle of
only ever using the finest ingredients and this is very much the cornerstone on which the Chapman business still operates.

Today her sons Kevin and Paul continue with this philosophy using some of Mavis’s
very own recipes and some new ones developed and added along the way, that she
would have being very proud of. We still have the pick of fish from local suppliers and
we aim to source our ingredients from local producers.

Chapman’s continue to build on our heritage today and develop exciting and
inspirational Fish and Seafood products. Having recently invested heavily in our
kitchens and production facilities and obtained BRC A grade we nonetheless, still
retain the artisan practices that make our handmade products totally unique.

We now have a wide range of quality products to suit all customer groups but our
Fish Wellingtons are one of our best sellers. Chapman’s Wellingtons are sensational.
Think portions of fish with mouth watering sauces encased in a light puff pastry.
Truly delicious! Your customers will love them! Perfect for impressing friends and
family or just for a heart warming meal. Our Fish Wellingtons are irresistible.
Simply place on a lightly greased baking tray and put into an oven preheated to 200°c
(Gas mark 6) and cook for 30-35 minutes until pastry is crisp and fish cooked through.
(In a non fan assisted oven, cooking time may take longer).

All our products are delivered frozen and have a shelf life of up to eighteen months
making them a great product for farm shops. We take great care with our packaging as
not only does it have to appeal to today’s ever demanding customer, but in Covid times
we feel customers want to know each product is safely wrapped giving the highest
levels of hygiene and protection.

If you want to give our products a try we do a first introductory order of just 25 units
and if you want to really work with us and become one of our stockists we can offer a
great support package:

Margin of 33% plus on all products
Fast delivery and re-stocking
Online stockist’s portal with online ordering
POS Materials and digital marketing support
Recipe cards and seasonal promotions
Great support from friendly staff with a family business approach
Branded freezers available

Why not have a look at our full product range and find out more about us at
www.chapmans-seafoods.co.uk
sales@chapmans-seafoods.co.uk
Telephone: 01472 269871

Chapman’s Seafoods Limited
Chapman House, Estate Road 7, South Humberside Industrial Estate, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire. DN31 2TP

Product Review – Whitakers Chocolates Ltd

23/08/2020 | 0 Comments

From humble beginnings way back in 1889, Yorkshire based Whitakers Chocolates Ltd
have grown into one of the U.K’s leading and award-winning chocolate manufacturers
and today, Whitakers are one of the very few British chocolate companies continuing
to supply premium chocolate and confectionery across the UK, indeed worldwide, not
only to us customers but to wholesalers, restaurants and farm shops.

Whitakers mission is a very simple one really, and that is to create great tasting, quality
chocolates and confectionery using carefully sourced ingredients packed in attractive
and sustainable packaging.

Within Whitakers range, you can not only find Fairtrade mint chocolates, chocolate crisps, crèmes & wafers you’ll find an impressive selection of vegan confectionery too!

Whitakers Truffle Spheres are available in three yummy flavours; milk & white chocolate orange, milk & white chocolate salted caramel and milk & white chocolate mint, which is where we begin our review…

These individually wrapped, rather novel balls of solid creamy chocolate have a wonderfully smooth texture.
Being infused with the finest natural peppermint oil, is a match made in heaven and they taste as good as they sound, so good in fact, they were gone in a blink of the eye.
Irresistible-one is just not enough!

Made with all natural ingredients and the finest ginger extract, you sure will indulge your taste buds with Whitakers Dark Chocolate Ginger Thins.
Dark, deep, rich and wonderfully intense (the chocolate to ginger ratio is spot on) these crispy thin wafers are not only incredibly moreish, they’re vegan friendly, Fairtrade, packed in good looking packaging AND boast a Great Taste award!

Whitakers luxury Mint Assortment
would make a pretty fabulous gift or the
perfect and generous after dinner mint
selection box. If you can bear to dish
them out…!
Filled with a delicious selection of both
dark and milk chocolate mint
Neapolitans, Fondant Cremes, Mint Crisp
Pieces, Wafer Thins and Frappé Cremes,
there really is something for everyone.

Handmade the traditional way using a copper pan and natural ingredients, Whitakers
Traditional English All Butter Fudge is, and let’s not mince words here…outstanding!

This intensely creamy, melt-in-the-mouth fudge was loved by every single one of our
tasting panel.
Not only is this chunky slab of fudge vegetarian, gluten AND soya free, it’s also very
attractive, being naturally wrapped, even finished off with a little artisan bow and
would sit very well on any farm shop shelf!

Whitakers supply individuals and businesses, big & small, from boxed chocolate gifts
to branded corporate chocolates and their brand new brochure features everything
they can provide, it’s definitely worth a look!
If you’d like to enquire about a trade account, you can do so here.

If you have a farm shop product and fancy a review, get in touch with
theteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk

Product Review – Gusto Organic

9/08/2020 | 0 Comments

Gusto Organic’s claim to fame is that they were the very first natural energy drink to hit the market and the only company to create their range of awesome & unique energy drinks using the finest, organic and Fairtrade ingredients, such as fruits, essential oils, spices and botanicals.

It’s good to know that Gusto Organic go to great lengths to find the very best
ingredients, never add artificial colours, flavours or preservatives and simply
sweeten their grown-up range of sparkling drinks with Fairtrade organic apple juice.

In 2017, Gusto Organic’s great tasting natural drinks were voted the no.1 ethical cola in the UK by ‘Ethical Consumer Magazine’.

This week we’ve had the pleasure of sampling & reviewing Gusto’s ethical range and were thrilled to discover that, within these rather snappy looking bottles we found an unusual and yet, a most superb range of great tasting, natural drinks!

With ethically sourced real kola nut for
sustained energy and ginseng to revitalise,
not forgetting the 14 (YES FOURTEEN)
Chinese herbs for strength, focus and well-
being, Gusto’s delicious ORIGINAL
ENERGY drink not only packs a punch but
delivers a refreshing and uplifting fizz.

Gusto’s LEMON ENERGY is quite literally bursting
with botanicals!
This wonderfully refreshing tipple is created with
organic crushed lemons and perfect for a hot
summers afternoon OR a superb mixer.
The guarana & Siberian ginseng gives you natural
energy & stamina…sure to keep you going all night!

The SICILIAN BLOOD ORANGE scored a 10
out of 10 with our panel of reviewers.
The complex blend of organic blood orange
& agave totally hits the spot, not too tart and
not too sweet.
Overall thoughts? Ridiculously good!

Being lovers of ginger, we couldn’t wait
to try Gusto’s organic FIERY GINGER
with CHIPOTLE.
Yes, this is a somewhat unusual
combination, but these flavours really
work!
The Mexican chipotle gives a deeper and
smokier dimension to the fresh n’ tangy
organic ginger.

We found that the carefully blended & subtle
taste of both the lemon and yuzu in Gusto’s
SICILIAN LEMON with YUZU organic drink,
left us with a gentle, almost delicate aftertaste.

An aromatic and natural alternative to your
regular, and let’s be honest, boring lemonade.

Gusto’s Naturally SLIM COLA is a much healthier alternative to the nations all time favourite summer drink (obviously) but to add more, THIS slim cola is free from artificial preservatives, full of flavour and naturally low in calories.

Wow!
The carefully blended organic blue agave, essential oils, spices and African cola nut, in Gusto’s REAL COLA, not only makes this cola incredibly tasty, but healthy too!
Nope, no nasty chemicals will be found in THIS cola!
Gusto’s REAL Cola tastes amazing…dare we say it, even better than the ‘real thing’

Gusto’s award-winning, REAL CHERRY COLA does what it says on the bottle.
By real, they MEAN real and if you love dark fruits then this is sure to be a winner.
This ‘very cherry’ cola is not made from cherry flavourings but REAL organic cherries and BOY, you sure can taste them too.
This beauty is deep, rich, moreish & guaranteed to lift your spirits & boost your
energy. Exceptional!

If you have a farm shop product and fancy a review, get in touch with
theteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk

Product Review – Wild & Fruitful Preserves Ltd

2/08/2020 | 0 Comments

For over 20 years, Wild & Fruitful have been creating their jams, chutneys, marmalade’s and relishes from deep in the heart of Cumbria.
By using fresh and locally sourced Cumbrian produce and ingredients, Wild & Fruitful hand-make their preserves & relishes in small batches using the traditional ‘open pan’
method and every single jar is gluten & dairy free, vegan friendly AND 100% natural!

Cumbrian Preserves with Provenance

We received a range of Wild & Fruitful’s very attractive jars of traditionally handmade,
jams, chutneys and marmalade’s and began our review with Wild & Fruitful’s
Extra Strawberry Jam.

This jam is…well, JAM packed with summer-sweet & succulent Cumbrian strawberries.
It sure is full of flavour and tastes like summer, just in a jar!
Best served on hot buttered crumpets, toasted tea cakes or even in your cake creations!

The chocoholics among us can and will indulge in the rich and dark, Raspberry & Dark Chocolate Jam. The deeply satisfying chocolate intensity contrasts brilliantly with
the sweetness of the raspberries. A match made in food heaven for sure!

By using locally sourced damsons and with a generous splosh of Cumbrian gin, the
boozy Damson & Gin Jam offers a wonderfully rich & fruity flavour.
We served and sampled this (quite a lot actually!) on warm buttered bread and loved
both the tartness & the texture.

The Pear & Stem Ginger Jam offers a sweet, deep warming flavour, making this a great
alternative and a natural sweetener in your porridge on a cold winters morning!

The chunks of ginger within Wild & Fruitful’s Seville Orange & Ginger Marmalade gives
us a powerful and welcome kick, add this to the delicious combination of spice &
citrus, for a mouth watering & moreish toast topper. Great for baking too!

Just a twist of the lid and you’ll immediately detect the whisky in the S eville Orange
& Whisky Marmalade!
This zesty marmalade is deliciously mellow and warming. We recommend serving on
warm toast for a decadent and boozy breakfast.

The fruity, yet spicy Curried Cumbrian Relish is packed with apricots and apples
making this a 100% natural, mouth watering AND an interesting accompaniment to
any meat dish, especially to your curry.

The dark and deeply spiced Cumberland Chutney has to be the favourite for the
traditional Ploughman’s and we all readily agreed that this would complement any
cheeseboard… A staple for every fridge.

The tropical flavours of Wild & Fruitful’s Mango Chutney combined with the
wonderful blend of garlic, chilli, ginger and spices makes this the tastiest mango
chutney around. You can either stir in a spoonful to liven up your curry OR just
add poppadoms!

The perfect combination of fruits, spices and locally brewed ale goes into Wild &
Fruitful’s hearty Keswick Ale Chutney.
This chutney is simply delicious as a sandwich filling and terrific with cold meats,
cheese or pies.

You can taste the sweet apricots and juicy apples in the Fruity Lakeland Chutney.
This well balanced chutney is sweet & spicy (with a little punch) and an excellent
condiment for cold meats and burgers too!

We believe that the Wild & Fruitful range is a pretty fabulous option for farm shops who are looking for artisan, handmade, perfectly natural preserves & refined relishes…

If you have a farm shop product and fancy a review, get in touch with
theteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk

Product Review – The Cornish Cheese Company

26/07/2020 | 0 Comments

Situated on the edge of Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, lies a family-run working farm,
home to The Cornish Cheese Company.
With their highly trained team of cheese makers, the Cornish Cheese Company
traditionally, hand-make their award-winning Cornish Blue Cheese using milk
supplied by the farms resident Holstein Friesians.

If you’re a cheese lover (as we are) I’m sure you can imagine our sheer joy when the Fabulous Farm Shop team received this rather smart gift box stuffed with scrumptious
artisan cheeses.

No encouragement was needed as the team got stuck in to sample these wonderful
cheeses on simple hunks of crusty bread.

Make no mistake, The Cornish Cheese Company’s ‘Cornish Blue‘, is FAR from being the
traditional blue cheese that we imagined it would be, as not only is it mild in taste, it’s
wonderfully creamy too!
Being made from pasteurised cows milk and designed to be eaten as a young cheese,
Cornish Blue is incredibly tasty with the most superb texture and a buttery
flavoursome tang, and although not quite spreadable, we reckon there’s many more
uses to be had in the kitchen with this semi soft cheese, such as salads, snacks, sauces
and desserts.

Yup, it didn’t take us long to all agree that this artisan cheese is not only ridiculously
moreish, it is, simply put, divine…!

Cornish Blue Cheese has been internationally recognised and won an incredible amount of accolades and awards, including World Cheese Awards Champion Cheese and Best Blue and English Cheese!

The Cornish Cheese Company also produce this award-winning artisan Cornish Blue goats’ cheese.
The wonderfully earthy and creamy ‘Cornish Nanny‘ is, of course, made the traditional farmhouse way and available in 2 weights.

BUT….that’s not ALL!

Say hello to these two utterly delicious & creamy pâtés!

Cornish Blue, Pear and Walnut pâté is handmade with natural ingredients and would make a fabulously indulgent addition to any cheeseboard and the Cornish Blue and fig pâté is delightfully fruity n’ juicy!
An ideal appetizer, dip or snack.

You have the opportunity to build your own West Country cheeseboard with The Cornish Cheese Company. Simply handpick your cheese, chutneys & crispbreads and have it delivered to anywhere in the UK. Surely, a gift your recipient will never forget!

How does a Cornish Blue Cheese, cheesy gift box for the cheese lover in your life, sound? Delivered to you door, beautifully presented in an attractive & sturdy branded gift box.

If you’re wanting to stock a WORLD CHAMPION, then look no further…The Cornish Cheese Company can offer support, including sample packs so your customers can sample and discover this truly tasty blue cheese.

Sounds like a WIN/WIN don’t you think?

If you have a farm shop product and fancy a review, get in touch with:
theteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk

Product review – Slightly Different Foods

21/06/2020 | 0 Comments

Let’s face it, most of us know someone who suffers with a food intolerance.

It’s estimated that in the U.K, 2 people in 10 suffer with IBS, which not only can be
embarrassing for the sufferer, but incredibly painful OR at the very least,
uncomfortable. IBS sufferers often have to make drastic changes to their diet to help
relieve the pain & symptoms.

Thankfully, clever Sonia Fox, Director of Slightly Different Foods took matters into
her own hands when faced with a narrowing diet and has helped relieve the pain of
IBS sufferers with her fabulous range of delicious, low-calorie, gluten-free, no-
fuss sauces & condiments that can be confidently enjoyed by anyone that suffers
from food intolerances, vegetarians, vegans as well as those following a low FODMAP
diet.

Let’s begin with Slightly Different’s Italian range…

ITALIAN RANGE

If you love your Italian dishes as much as I do then you’ll appreciate just how much
Italian sauces are very much a kitchen essential.
My ‘go to’ is always a bolognese. I’ve tried pretty much every jar of bolognese sauce
you can find, so I was more than keen to sample Slightly Different’s
Smooth Bolognese sauce!
I found this rich tomatoey sauce, thick and hearty with an authentic Italian
‘homemade’ taste and let’s not forget that this is vegetarian AND vegan, so this
proved to be HUGE hit and a brilliant all-rounder to many of the team.

The Arrabbiata with chilli sauce is packed with a punch and can be used in any
number of dishes. This sauce has more than enough flavour to stand on it’s own
such as a breadstick dipping sauce, while the Tomato and Basil sauce is as simple as
it is delicious and oozes traditional Italian flavours.

CURRY RANGE

So many specialist food products lack flavour, but NOT so for Slightly
Different’s range of curry sauces. Simply by opening the jar of the Thai Red Curry,
the aroma was mouth-watering. This low calorie sauce is a beautiful creamy
consistency laced with spices and coconut milk, whilst the fragrant and fruity
flavour of the Tikka Masala not only tastes authentic, it’s a welcome replacement
(and relief) to IBS sufferers.
The sweet Tropical Curry sauce is perfect for a quick, healthy and incredibly tasty
meal. It’s full of fruit; pineapple, banana and coconut and a flavourful blend of
spices, use this to instantly tropicalise any dish!

MEXICAN RANGE

The Slightly Kickin’ Medium Chilli sauce is simply delicious with tacos. Slightly
Different have hit the nail on the head with this bold flavour, as you get the sense of
the REAL chillies without breaking a sweat.
The Red Pepper and Chilli sauce is a perfect alternative to any tomato based sauce.
Try it poured over some roasted veg, I did, and it’s absolutely divine. If you fancy a
pizza with a kick, then I highly recommend using this as your base sauce.

STIR IN/STIR FRY RANGE

I was very keen to try Slightly Different’s Vibrant & Syrupy Sweet & Sour sauce….
I wasn’t disappointed either.
It’s pretty incredible to think that this fruity sauce is Fodmap Friendly and has no
artificial preservatives, flavouring OR colouring!
I used this tangy sauce in a vegetable stir fry. Why not try it with chicken or Quorn?

The Sweet Chilli Sauce does what it says on the tin (well, jar) it’s vibrant and zingy!
It makes a superb condiment for many Thai dishes and is excellent with chicken,
quorn and fish. However, if you’re looking for recipe ideas, then look no
further. Slightly Different’s recipe page will inspire you!

Slightly Different’s NEW Orange, Ginger & Chilli dressing proved very popular with
the Fabulous Farm Shop Team. I’m not going to say we came to blows over it but it
was close…
This fabulous and lightly spiced dressing is a refreshing change to your boring
mayonnaise or vinaigrette and the easiest way to add a drop of ZING to your dull
salad.

The Team summed this dressing up in just one word…. Phenomenal!

We’re already looking forward to trying new sauces from this innovative & award-
winning company!

If you have a farm shop product and fancy a review, get in touch with
theteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk

Product Review – Rosemullion Distillery

14/06/2020 | 0 Comments

Set deep in the heart of the Cornish countryside, you’ll find craft distiller and creator of
artisan Cornish gins and rums, Rosemullion Distillery.

This true artisan distillery, produces small batches using their bespoke hand-built
copper still and with a passion for authenticity, Rosemullion only use local ingredients
and Cornish rainwater to create their traditional recipes.

Rosemullion currently have four gins and two rums and a seasonal Christmas Spirit in their range and are available in 25cl & 75cl sized bottles.

FIRST OFF and before I even begin…I feel it’s very important to note, that for a
relatively new company, Rosemullion Distillery have already been recognised by top
named awards and received international accolades for its gins and rums!

Rosemullion Distillery launched their
first four spirits in 2018 and quite incredibly, all four, Dry Gin, Summer Gin, Spiced Rum and
Gold Rum picked up awards in the internationally-
recognised SIP AWARDS.

At this year’s San Francisco World Spirits
Competition Rosemullion Distillery bagged
themselves an enviable 6 awards for their
Harvest Gin, Gold Rum, Spiced Rum, Summer Gin,
Seafarer’s Gin and Dry Gin.

Rosemullion was the top ranked British made rum at both World Rum 2020 and San Francisco Spirits 2020!

Can’t tell you how excited the Fabulous Farm Shop Team were to receive
Rosemullion’s high quality range of spirits and as the sun was out, we decided to begin
our sampling with Rosemullion’s Summer Gin…

This refreshing gin is pretty darn perfect for a summer’s evening (or afternoon if you’re
that way inclined!) it’s light & crisp with a citrus twang and by adding a light tonic or
perhaps a few fresh raspberries, would make this the perfect summer tipple.

We were keen to try Seafarer’s Gin…
Inspired by the salty air and stormy seas, this intriguing gin is created with a blend
of botanicals found along the Cornish coast and seaweed from the shoreline!
This is a bold and peppery gin, a definite tongue tingler, and we agreed that this high
quality gin would be best served with a simple slice of lemon.

The gorgeous tasting Harvest Gin is created with apples & plums from the distillery’s
orchard. We all loved its strong and fruity flavour and by adding a dash of lemonade
made this a most wonderfully delicate and very distinctive gin. I shall be returning to
this scrumptious bottle…later…in private.

Based on a traditional recipe, Rosemullion’s classic & modern Dry Gin is well rounded
and incredibly flavoursome.
This fine gin is infused with seasonal botanicals such as juniper, orange and coriander
seeds (to name but a few) making this sweet and heady and leaving us with a liquorice
after note.
Sadly and reluctantly, we had to stop after just the one glass as it was time to move
onto Rosemullion’s Rums!

Rosemullions 100% single pot distilled Gold Rum is smooth and mellow.
This beautiful amber rum mixes well (try it in your cocktail creations) and offers us a
moreish, sweet vanilla aroma.

By being bottled in this beautiful, nautical-inspired decanter, pirates are on my mind…I feel I’ve found their treasure!

The Spiced Rum‘s pot is distilled before it’s aged and spiced. This heady, aromatic,
treacle-like rum offers us that perfect balance of sweet & spice.

Rosemullion Distillery‘s gins and rums are outstanding & would make a wonderful gift
and if you’re looking to stock high quality, authentic, traditional AND multi award-
winning spirits…look no further!

Fancy a farm shop prduct review?
Get in touch with theteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk

Product Review – Banhoek Chilli Oil

7/06/2020 | 0 Comments

What began as a project in a kitchen from the fear of average chilli oils, then
trialling dozens of variations of chillies, oils and production methods in pursuit of
perfection… they finally got it right and The Banhoek Chilli Oil company was born.

By selecting top quality canola oil and sun-ripened chillies, Banhoek Chilli Oil
now handcraft their authentic and well loved oil from within their custom-built
production kitchens and by using induction heating, Banhoek can ensure the
consistency of their infused oil’s quality and flavour.

Canola oil has a low amount of saturated fats and cholesterol which makes it one of
the most healthiest cooking oils in the kitchen. It’s rich in omega-3, omega-6 and
vitamins E and K and of course, chillies are an excellent source of vitamins A, B, C & E!

Well, the lucky Fabulous Farm Shop Team received a couple of ‘good looking’ bottles of
Banhoeks’ Chilli Oil and I have to admit, I tend to play it very safe when introducing
myself to new spices, so I first used this sparingly but I needn’t have worried as it
produces a perfect balance of flavour and heat.

I know what you’re thinking, what meals can I create? I thought this too, until I
read Banhoek’s words…’USE YOUR IMAGINATION’ so I ran with it and from
tentative beginnings, I’ve now introduced this wonderfully versatile oil into many
dishes; drizzled over vegetables, seafood AND meats and I have not once been
disappointed.

The smooth taste and tingling sensations are just the intro to the full experience – just
give it a second or two… and phwoar!

However, if you should need any inspiration, Banhoek Chilli Oil have their own
suggested meals to try on their recipes page. I have my eye on the Charred Green
Vegetables with Poached Egg, why don’t you give it a try?

Don’t just take our word for it!
Great Taste Award Winner!

Not only is this Banhoeks’ Chilli Oil fun to experience with or try out at dinner parties,
it looks top notch… no doubt about it Banhoek’s bottle is aesthetically pleasing….
I WANT this on my kitchen shelf.
It’s bold, it’s healthy and it’s 100% natural and you can buy your bottle here.
????

Why settle for less when you can have Banhoek, the best?

If you have a farm shop product & fancy a review, get in touch with
theteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk

Product Review – Ramus Seafood

31/05/2020 | 0 Comments

For almost 50 years, Ramus Seafood have built the most excellent reputation for
supplying eateries, chefs and retailers with premium and wonderfully fresh fish &
seafood.

Proudly being a member of the Sustainable Seafood Coalition (which sets the strictest standards of ethical sourcing and sustainable fishing in the UK), Ramus have been recognised and named Fishmonger of the Year in 2017 by The Farm Shop & Deli Awards, and rightly so!

The team at Fabulous Farm Shops HQ were lucky enough to receive fresh fish boxes
from Ramus and I can tell you, we were more than thrilled with the wonderful range
and quality we received!

The fish arrived well packed and cool with ice and I immediately dived onto the
Smoked Mackerel Fillets.
I know my Smoked Mackerel…well, I thought I did!
Ramus’s superb Mackerel fillets are incredibly moist and the fish flakes wonderfully,
with an intense smokey taste to boot!
The best and by far the freshest I’ve ever tasted.

The generous salmon en croute was incredibly succulent, encased in mouthwatering
flaky pastry whilst the Salmon & Pepper skewers proved a big hit and a welcome
change from the usual boring burger at the family BBQ.

I wanted a quick, easy and healthy
dinner so I simply oven roasted Ramus’s
fresh Scottish Salmon. This salmon is
the most tender of fillets and the deep
orange colour coupled with its light and
delicate taste is a melt in the mouth
experience, I shan’t forget in a hurry.

Ramus’s fresh and smoked range of fish & seafood offers a wonderfully freshly caught
range such as Sea Bass, Raw Peeled Tiger Prawns, Cod Fillets & Fish Pie Mix.

And that’s not all!
Ramus ALSO offer oven-ready seafood dishes which are presented, ready-to-cook
and have a long shelf-life of seven days.

This oven-ready range combines the freshest fish with Ramus’s chef’s delicious
complimentary flavours such as Chilli Salmon & Pepper Skewers, Smoked
Haddock with Mustard Butter and Salmon Fillets with Pesto Butter to name but a few….

Ramus is proud to support retailers across the UK & their retail packs (both fresh AND
oven-ready) are available with small MOQ’s, so if you’re considering extending your
range to include the finest fish & seafood from a highly respected supplier, then look
no further!

BECOME A STOCKIST

Ramus’s fishmonger & delivery team guarantee that your order will arrive to you, on
time and in outstanding condition!
Can you get a better service than that?

If you have a farm shop product & fancy a review, get in touch with
theteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk

Will life ever really be the same after COVID-19?

31/05/2020 | 0 Comments

By Darren Windsor
Image Retail Solutions Ltd
Director

That’s a very good question, and opinions strongly differ, but one thing we can
probably all agree on is that change is upon us right now, and things won’t be back to
normal for a long time yet.

Social distancing is already becoming the new norm and retail has had to change, even
if only for the short to medium term.
So how are businesses adapting to the new challenges they face?

As a retail solutions provider to the small, independent sector we deal quite actively
with small rural businesses. There’s certainly a lot of uncertainty about and a lot of
questions being asked, but as always, technology offers a multitude of options. And the
recent pandemic isn’t the only reason why retailers should be looking at the way they
do business.

A lot of people we speak to don’t appreciate what opportunities there are out there for
increasing revenue and routes to market. Perhaps surprisingly (at least to us as a
technology provider), a lot of people we speak to still don’t even have a website that
they can do business through. The most cited reason why not is cost, second to that is
complexity – where do you start?

And I can understand why – when your interest is in growing or selling produce, you
won’t necessarily be an expert in ecommerce, nor have the time or patience for it. One
of the issues many people have with IT and technology is the pace with which it
moves; even having an interest in the industry it can be hard to keep up with it all!
And that’s where we come in.

Faced with the recent lockdown we’ve been contacted by a deluge of retailers and
hospitality businesses needing help to adapt to the changing landscape, and the new
ways we all need to do business. Not just those that can’t trade, and who are looking at
ways to re-open, but often those that can, who have seen unprecedented demand for
their goods and who just want to do things better – who want to cope with the influx
of delivery orders, for example. Some of these have seen their delivery orders
skyrocket but just can’t cope because they’re still taking orders by phone or facebook
message.

This is where our new Deliverappy smartphone app comes in, as just one example of
how we’re helping the sector to adapt.

Registering as a retailer lets you sell your goods and produce through the app with the
minimal of effort – just add your products, snap a picture and set your prices.
Customers find your store on the app, order and pay – you receive the order, pick pack
and deliver!

And it’s not just deliveries – you can also use the app for click & collect too (or instead)
and those that operate an onsite café or eatery might be pleased to know that the app
also supports table orders.

For those wanting to dip their toe in ecommerce but without the expense, Deliverappy
is a cost effective way to do just that, with registration from only £95+VAT (compare
that to the cost of a website!) and no monthly charges. It’s simpler to operate than a
website and you do it all from your smartphone. There’s not even a need to have a PC
in the store if you don’t have one (nor broadband, so long as you have a mobile signal).
It’s paperless too, so a truly “green” solution.

An increasing number of consumers are now preferring to buy through smartphone
apps, and apps encourage loyalty more so than a website based shopping cart. And it’s
not just millennials – it’s a common misconception that the aging population don’t like
their tech, with almost 70% of over 75s owing a smartphone according to a 2013 ONS
survey (we expect the figure to be even higher than this now). For those wanting a
bespoke experience for their patrons, Deliverappy is also available as a “white
labelled” product – and this is something that is exciting the community more than
the Deliverappy app itself. With our white label solution your business can have its
very own app in the app store, under your own name and branding, exclusively for
you.
And the way we’ve done this makes it extremely cost effective for small businesses.

Deliverappy is all about supporting and promoting local businesses who work so hard to serve their local communities, and as a platform we want to do what we can to help
support this sector that is so often-times forgotten. Certainly as a platform we’ve got
big plans to work with rural associations and charities to help the sector adapt to what is now a changing world.

Featured Producer – Banhoek Chilli Oil

29/05/2020 | 0 Comments

Banhoek Chilli Oil……….A Kitchen Essential for the Spice Connoisseur

Handcrafted in the beautiful Banhoek Valley near Stellenbosch in South Africa,
Banhoek Chilli Oil is a premium grade, artisan chilli oil made from just two ingredients,
the highest quality rapeseed oil and dried Thai Birdseye chillies. 100% natural, no
preservatives, GMO free.

Winner of a Great Taste 2019 award this delicious, golden-hued oil has been
specifically created to complement a wide range of ingredients and to consistently
deliver just the right level of spice without compromising the flavours of the other
elements.

Whether your customers like their food fiery hot or just a tickle on the tongue Banhoek Chilli Oil delivers and adds that something special to almost everything from stir fries to marinades, from vegetarian and vegan cuisine, to meat, fish, seafood, pasta, pizza, eggs – the only limit is your imagination!

Banhoek Chilli Oil UK Ltd
Crows Farm
Belchamp Walter
Sudbury
Suffolk
CO10 7AP
01787 319766
banhoekchillioil.co.uk
ed@banhoekchillioil.co.uk

Product Review – Joypots

24/05/2020 | 0 Comments

I know my chocolate and certainly have my preferences. No one had to ask me twice when asked to sample and review Joypots confectionery…EASY!
Or so I thought. Joypots say that they are “on a mission to bring joy through their fantastic range of confectionery”

Turns out, that’s actually the truth!

I honestly don’t know where to start with this review, mainly because of the incredibly
wide and varied range of sweet treats on offer.
But first off, I need to be thorough and professional about this, so I shall begin by
loosening my belt a notch before I delve in & sample this wonderfully exciting variety
of confectionery.

If you’re a lover of nutty chocolate and let’s face it, who ISN’T, then you’re in for a real
treat with Joypots Golden Nut Crunch, or Dark Chocolate Brazils… perhaps the
Tiramisu Cashews, Cinnamon Dusted Milk Chocolate Almonds or maybe the heavenly
Peanut & Popcorn Crunch is more your thing?

It’s not all about the chocolate though, as Joypots boast a whopping 26 (no, that’s NOT a
typo) mouth-watering varieties to tingle your taste buds, so there really is something
for everyone.

Joypots have even created a ‘grown up’ range of retro cola style bottles…
Gin Fizz, Pink Fizz & Mojito gummies.

Joypots fun & exciting range are produced using only the finest ingredients, are
handpacked in the U.K and available in small or large pots. The pots are made from
recycled materials, which are in-turn, recyclable & reuseable.

Joypots are perfect for snacking or given as a gift and with resealable lids your treats
will be kept joyfully fresh, which is great….but only if you have willpower!

And now for something completely different!
Joybags

Joybags are Joypots babies and they come in a quirky and rather fabulous range too, all
36 of them, including Milk Chocolate Orange Peel, Milk Chocolate Banana Slices,
Yogurt Honeycomb Bites and Dark Chocolate Gooseberries to name but a few.
I have to add (admit) here that I havent physically been able to put the Dark Chocolate
Gooseberries down as yet.
So be warned, these are NOT run-of-the-mill chocolates, prepare for a taste
explosion, these are truly out of the ordinary, something special!

I know many a vegan and it would be wrong of me not to draw attention to this!
Vegan gummie and chewy sweets are hard to come by, but good old Joypots have
thought of you and created this wonderful tub of vegan fruity ‘n’ fizzy, Pick ‘n’ Mix.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reviewing and sampling Joypots flavours and whilst I’m
indulging myself with another Tiramisu Brazil, I’m already thinking of what great
stocking fillers these would make!

Joypots claim that they recreate traditional sweets with a twist. They mean it.

Want to become a Joypots stockist? (you should) you can enquire HERE.
Both Joypots and Joybags have attractive and free-standing, point of sale stands and
you can request a brochure HERE.

If you have a farm shop product and fancy a review, get in touch with
theteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk

Product Review – Aberffraw Biscuit Co

24/05/2020 | 0 Comments

The Aberffraw shortbread is a traditional, handmade shortbread in the shape of a
scalloped shell and it’s said to originate from the 13th century…making it quite possibly,
the oldest biscuit in Britain!

The Aberffraw Biscuit Company have recreated this traditional rich, buttery shortbread
and have not only received much media attention (even appearing on TV) but have also bagged themselves some prestigious awards including The Great Taste Award!

Make no mistake when I say this handmade shortbread is a LUXURY all butter shortbread, Aberffraw’s traditional Welsh, shortbread is made with just 3 top quality ingredients; butter, flour and sugar.

But hold on, you’ll be very pleased to hear that there’s more than just ONE variety in
Aberffraw’s range…

The NEW ginger Aberffraw biscuit is handmade using crystallised and ground ginger,
giving this beautifully buttery shortbread a wonderfully warm finish, so beautiful in
fact, that this new to the range flavour won itself a prestigious ‘Great Taste’ award.

Created with a mix of tea, spices and raisins, the Bara Brith shortbread is packed full
with flavour with its delecatble mix of sweet n’ spice.

The deeply rich and buttery chocolate shortbread is baked to absolute perfection and
quite impossible to resist.

Aberffraw’s lemon shortbread is a real treat & incredibly moreish…created with grated
lemon zest it’s really no surprise this shortbread has also won itself an envious Great
Taste Award.

And The Great Taste Award goes to…

Treat someone special to one of Aberffraw’s super-duper gift tins…
…if you can bear to part with it, that is!

By demand, Aberffraws traditional Welsh biscuits are now available in twin packs and
proving to be an incredibly popular, authentic Welsh wedding favour and treat or gift
for hotel & holiday cottage guests.

Luckily for you, you can satisfy your taste buds & indulge in Aberffraw’s award-
winning shortbread and buy online HERE

The only casualty during this review was my waistline and you’ll understand why
when you try these scrumptious (and rather special) shortbread yourself!

If you have a farm shop product and fancy a review, get in touch!
theteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk

Featured Farm Shop – Gloucestershire

27/04/2020 | 0 Comments

Eastington Farm Shop

Looking for a farm shop that sources only the finest local produce?
Look no further!
Located on a dairy farm in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, Eastington Farm Shop is passionate about supporting local farmers & artisan producers and bring us a wide range of delicious and local vegetables, fruit, meats and gifts.

The choice and range of fresh fruits and vegetables here is second to none and in
Eastington’s efforts to reduce, recycle and reuse, there’s as little packaging and waste as possible with paper bags in situ.
Upon the deli counter you’ll find locally sourced meats, handmade pies and a fabulous range of cheeses.

Also on offer are Eastington’s hand selected fruit & veg boxes packed full with fresh, wholesome and local produce to see you through the weekend.

You can pick up local chutneys, jams, milk (in glass bottles) honey or bread and enjoy a scrumptious slice of cake & a cup of freshly ground coffee at Eastington’s little cafe whilst you shop!

Keeping it green!
Customers are encouraged to bring their own containers to refill at Eastington’s fabulous ‘refill station’.
Here you can find pasta, pulses, dried fruits, oats and much more!

A A brilliant idea…soup bags!
You can pick up a soup bag (feeds 4) PLUS the recipe from Eastington Farm Shop.

Yet another bonus at Eastington Farm Shop is their lovely little gift section which offers cut flowers, potted plants, gifts and natural smellies & soaps.

OPENING HOURS:
Mon & Tues – CLOSED
Wed – Sat 8am–6pm
Sun 9am–1pm

Featured Farm Shop – Pynes Farm Shop

8/01/2020 | 0 Comments

Pynes Farm Shop has been operating for over 35 years through 3 generations of the Pyne family in an old barn on the farm and are renowned for their excellent home grown vegetables, free range eggs and lamb.

Situated within the Otter Estuary and on the beautiful South West Coast Path, an area of outstanding natural beauty, Pynes Farm Shop is the perfect place to shop.

You’ll always find plenty of fresh and delicious produce at Pynes Farm Shop, and they’re proud to supply as much West-country produce as possible including veg, preserves, chutneys, cereals, ice cream, meats, beer, gifts and dairy produce.
There’s plenty of parking available along with friendly & helpful staff.