Speciality Food October 2024

8 @specialityfood in bringing farm retailers and farmers markets together. It is vital to have one strong voice for the industry, to promote local food, low foodmiles and local producers to consumers and to ensure farm retailers and farmers markets continue to thrive.” She added, “We really want to encourage all farm retailers and farmers markets to join the FRA to really put our industry at the forefront.” The FarmRetail Association is also thrilled to announce the launch of its highly anticipated annual conference inMarch 2025, themed ‘Profit With Purpose: Let’s GrowWith Integrity’. The event will feature an impressive line-up of renowned speakers, including Guy Singh- Watson, visionary founder of Riverford Organics; George Eustice, former secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs; and Nigel Barden, renowned food journalist and broadcaster. These industry leaders will share their insights on building successful and sustainable farm retail businesses while upholding strong ethical principles. Attendees can expect thought-provoking discussions, valuable networking opportunities, and practical takeaways to help them thrive in today’s competitive landscape. On the evening of the conference, the FRA’s annual awards will also be held to spotlight and celebrate innovative businesses in the industry. The FarmRetail Association has rebranded with a bold vision for the future. The national FarmRetail Association announced the biggest brand overhaul in its 45 year history at the recent Speciality & Fine Food Fair, with a fresh new look, and a vision to bring together the 1,000-plus farm shops and farmers operating in the UK. The FarmRetail Association (formerly FARMA) is a not-for-profit association of the best real farm shops and real farmers’ markets from across the UK. Writer and broadcaster Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, who is also patron of the FRA, launched the rebrand with FRA chair Emma Mosey. Fearnley-Whittingstall is a writer, campaigner and presenter best known for his River Cottage TV series as well as for fronting documentary series such as Hugh’s Fish Fight , Hugh’s War onWaste , Britain’s Fat Fight and War on Plastic with Hugh and Anita . He said, “I’mdelighted to be joining the FarmRetail Association to celebrate the start of a new chapter for the association and to connect with the amazing farm retail community.” Emma said the launch “marks the start of a new chapter for the FRA which we are taking to the next level Entries close onMonday, 23rd September, and the awards will be announced on Tuesday, 12thMarch at a glittering dinner at the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham. Categories include the Rising Star Award, celebrating business development and newcomers to the industry, FarmShop Butchery of the Year, Large FarmShop of the Year, Small FarmShop of the Year, Farmers’ Market of the Year, Farm Cafe/Restaurant of the Year, PYO of the Year, and Associate Member of the Year. The category of Pick Your Own Farm (PYO) of the Year, was shortlisted in July as judging took place in the height of the PYO season. The finalists are Craigie’s Farm, Manor FarmFruits, and Garson FarmPYO. All members of the FarmRetail Association are eligible to enter the awards free of charge. W henever people are asked to name a preference between summer or winter the answer is usually summer and for the obvious reasons. In a similar way I have always assumed that the most profitable and productive time to run a speciality food shop would also be summer. The longer days, the better weather and the general feel good vibes of summer intuitively lend themselves to our sort of independent shops and our sort of independent prices. The very thought of the short wintery days of January and February are enough to send a shudder through the pickles and sauces department. However on closer inspection, and of course specifically at the sales breakdown of Partridges, winter sales outperform summer sales every year and in some cases it is not even that close. So what is going on? Of course to start with it depends on the definition of winter. For ease of use I have determined the first and last quarters of the year should be counted as winter and the middle two quarters regarded as summer. Christmas is naturally the big daddy of footfall in our sector and JOHN SHEPHERD PARTRIDGES “Is summer orwinter best for speciality food shops?” the December quarter alone still accounts for over 30% of Partridges' annual sales, and that’s basically over a 12-week period as week 13 at the end of the year is our quietest. But I would still have thought that the first three cold months of the year – the eighth, ninth and twelfth busiest – would have balanced out the Christmas benefits. I am wrong. Looking back over the last five years’ sales records, winter (the first and fourth quarters) has always outperformed summer (the second and third quarters). By 3.8% in 2019, 9.6% in 2020, 6.8% in 2021, 3.8% in 2022 and 5.0% in 2023. By the way this does not necessarily hold for convenience stores, where the result appears more of a photo finish. From individual research I know one store that records a one percent margin in favour of winter and another that scores summer as nearly 10% better. Different locations different trading patterns. However, the real difference is not just about December. It is about November and its cultural resets after half term, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas lights switch-ons and Christmas markets. It often outperforms December and last year by 11%. Speciality food is in the air. So looking out from the front of our shops on an overcast, cold, rainy and quiet September day like today, let’s not worry too much and just remember things are about to get a whole lot better. The very thought of the short winterydays of January andFebruary are enough to send a shudder through the pickles and sauces department. However oncloser inspection, and of course specifically at the sales breakdownof Partridges, winter sales outperformsummer every year FarmRetail Association unveils fresh new look