Speciality-Food-June-2025

compromising on taste and quality!” says Leona McDonald of Golden Hooves. “Shoppers are looking for more sustainable foods, but in particular for brands that demonstrate sustainable practices such as regenerative farming, transparent supply chains and ethical sourcing. From our recent survey, biodiversity and animal welfare came out on top for what reallymatters to consumers when considering the environmental impact of their food. That’s why our farmers are working with nature and creating homely habitats to help nature thrive above and below ground. They are nature’s heroes!” “Fine food shoppers want to feel good about the purchases they make, so they’re looking for good animal welfare and produce that has positive benefits for their health and the health of the planet,” says David Finlay of The Ethical Dairy. “Obviously, they’re looking for dairy products that taste great too, but we are very much finding that fine food shoppers are also driven by values. The story behind the product matters a great deal, and that storymust be simple yet powerful.” Telling the story of farm to fridge has proven successful across other fine food sectors – cheese 44 LEONA MCDONALD GOLDEN HOOVES DAVID FINLAY THE ETHICAL DAIRY ANNE-LAURE FARRAR THE KNOWLEDGE BANK HENRY COOKE CLOTTON HALL CREAMERY WILL LUKE PORSHAM FARM COMMENTATORS @specialityfood being a clear example – bringing an opportunity to support local businesses doing things right as well as supporting retailers’ bottom lines; taking spend away from mass-produced dairy products and towards positive change. “People are muchmore knowledgeable about the impact their purchases have on the environment and on the animals within food systems. Social media has pulled back the curtain on industrial farming practices, showing shoppers realities they never previously knew existed,” he continues. While steps in an eco-friendly direction are certainly to be celebrated, all in the sector need to be conscious of exaggerated claims and the impact they have across the board. “With that awareness comes, for many, a desire for the impact of their purchases to be positive. But people have a healthy degree of scepticism too, they are increasingly wary of greenwashing,” says David. “So, I think the onus is on us as food producers to demonstrate integrity and transparency in the claims we make, to build trust and to build relationships with the people who buy our products.” “Foodmiles and provenance is a huge selling factor for the modern customer, and we focus a lot of our time telling our customers that about howwe produce our products all on our own farmwithin 24 hours and we strive to provide the highest quality and fresh products available,” begins Henry Cooke, founder of Clotton Hall Creamery – producer of a range of dairy products, including a uniquely Northern clotted cream, based on a dairy farm in Cheshire. With long, unpronounceable ingredients lists becoming STRIVINGFOR BETTER W hile milk and dairy products are a key example of staple products becoming commoditised, a growing number of shoppers – and conscientious farmers and producers – are taking great strides inmaking options available for those who have a thirst for better. Fine food shoppers are a key BIO & ME VANILLA KEFIR YOGHURT Tangy, gut-friendly kefir yoghurt with 18 culture strains for immunity support, and with no added sugar. High in fibre and protein. bioandme.co.uk DELAMERE DAIRY SALTED CARAMEL FLAVOUR MILK A smooth and delicious milk suitable for all the family. delameredairy.co.uk LONGLEY FARM COTTAGE CHEESE WITH CHIVES An award-winning natural, low fat, high protein cottage cheese filled with the flavour of chive. longleyfarm.com ALL THINGS BUTTER GARLIC & HERB BUTTER British dairy butter churned with parsley, garlic, mint and lemon for a flavour experience. allthingsbutter.co.uk STOCK CHECK audience here, meaning that by stocking ethically-produced, high quality dairy products, you can be confident that you’re not only giving your customers what they want but supporting the future of dairy farming, too. What are shoppers looking for in 2025? “In short; nutritious, nature friendly and British without Consumers are increasingly conscious of the power of their choices, and the dairy sector is primed to benefit