Entries are now open for the Farm Shop & Deli Retailer Awards 2026 which celebrate the very best the UK’s independent retail sector has to offer.
The awards, hosted by British Baker owner William Reed, offer a unique opportunity for retailers and online businesses to gain national recognition, elevate their brand and connect with a passionate community of food and drink professionals.
With categories spanning diverse retail specialisms and regional awards covering all corners of the UK, they showcase innovation, champion local success stories, and honour the people driving the sector forward.
The categories are Delicatessen, Farm Shop Large, Farm Shop Small, Independent local shop / Village store, Online Business, and Other Specialist Retailer (includes baker, butcher, cheesemonger, fishmonger, food hall, and greengrocer).
Regional winners from category finalists will be awarded from the following nine regions:
- Anglia
- Midlands – including East Midlands and West Midlands
- North East England - including North East and Yorkshire & Humberside
- North West England – including Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Manchester and Merseyside
- Northern Ireland
- Scotland
- South of England – Including London and the South East
- South West England
- Wales
Run in partnership with The Grocer and proudly championed by Fieldfare, the awards are free to enter via the Farm Shop & Deli website.
“The retail market continues to be a cautious one and therefore it’s more crucial than ever that the Farm Shop & Deli Retailer Awards shine a light on the finest food and drink shopkeepers and on-liners, providing consumers with the confidence to seek out the best there are,” said chair of judges Nigel Barden.
“Our finalists are invariably excellent marketeers, so the awards provide the perfect platform to let people know of your prowess, particularly as you’ve been shortlisted by a group of knowledgeable, experienced and highly respected judges, representing all aspects of the food and drink industry. So don’t be coy, let consumers know how brilliant you are.”
The organisers have made several changes for the 2026 awards including new questions on the online entry form, more regions to win (the North and South of England regions have been split into East and West), and a brand refresh to bring it in line with the upcoming rebrand for The UK Food & Drink Shows.
There are also new faces on the judging panel including Sangita Tryner, owner of Delilah Fine Foods and winner of this year’s Farm Shop & Deli Retailer Awards, Andrew Burton, associate director at Pleydell Smithyman, and Alex Emmanuel-Jones, commercial director at The Black Farmer.
Catherine Connor, managing director of Lovingly Artisan, which was named Retailer of the Year in 2024, and North of England regional winner, is also joining the judging panel for the 2026 edition.
In this role, she’s looking for a business that is “totally passionate about everything they do”. “From the produce they retail to how they present those products to the variety of what they stock within their store. So, we’re looking for people that have a real insight into their business and understand what they wish to achieve in the future and taking their team with them,” Connor adds.
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