Entries are now open for the Farm Shop & Deli Retailer Awards 2025, which this year features revised categories and clearer scoring as well as new judges and event sponsors.
The annual competition, run in partnership with British Baker’s sister publication The Grocer and championed by frozen food supplier Fieldfare, is said to play a fundamental role within the industry in supporting and celebrating the UK’s independent specialist retail market.
Retailers including craft bakery businesses can enter the Farm Shop & Deli Retailer Awards 2025 by completing this free online form. Winners will be revealed at the Farm Shop & Deli Show at the NEC Birmingham from 7 to 9 April 2025, which is also set to feature the Farm Shop & Deli Product Awards – another chance for bakery businesses to shine (2024 winners listed here).
British Baker will host its Britian’s Best Loaf and Britain’s Best Cake competitions at the Birmingham NEC too (entries opening in the new year), all forming part of the UK Food & Drink Shows 2025.
The Farm Shop & Deli Retailer Awards 2025 offers six different categories to enter, including Delicatessen, Farm Shop Large, Farm Shop Small, Independent local shop / Village store, Online Business, and Other Specialist Retailer (which spans bakers, butchers, cheesemongers, fishmongers, food halls and greengrocers).
Regional winners from the category finalists will then be awarded for the seven regions of Anglia, The Midlands (including North East, North West, Yorkshire & Humberside), Northern Ireland, Scotland, South of England, and Wales.
Newcomer of the Year will also be named alongside the overall champion, Retailer of the Year, which was claimed by Cumbria-based bakery firm Lovingly Artisan back in April ahead of a record-breaking number of 2024 entries.
Mark Kacary, managing director at Norfolk Deli and 2024’s Best Retailer Delicatessen and Anglia regional winner, said he would encourage other retailers to enter because “the entry process gives you an opportunity to think about your business”.
“It gives you an opportunity to concisely outline your business, which in the line will probably help you long term actually understand your business more,” he noted. The event also presents the chance to network with industry professionals and celebrate success with staff and stakeholders.
As well as revising the categories, organisers have also introduced a new entry form that indicates the points allocated per question, with advice on how entrants can maximise them.
The 2025 awards are welcoming some new additions to the judging team too, including British Baker editor Amy North, Radley Russell from Farm Retail Association, Eleanor O’Brien from National Craft Butchers, and Karen Dear from Craft Bakers Association. The panel, to be led by chair of judges Nigel Barden and co-chair of judges Elaine Lemm, will evaluate what initiatives the retailers have implemented over the last 12 months to develop and grow their store or business.
“What I am looking for, particularly in the early stages when I am doing the online judging, is to learn about you and your story,” commented Lemm. “What is it about you and your business?”
“It could be about the people that you work with, it may be the product, the producers it could be your history and heritage. I need you to tell me that story because through it I can learn about you, your business and the people you work with,” she added.
In addition to the Awards champions Fieldfare, the event is also proudly supported by Fabulous Farm Shops, Farm Retail Association, and Go Jute.
To find out more about the Farm Shop & Deli Retailer Awards 2025, and to submit an entry for your business (for free), please visit the dedicated event website here. Deadline for submissions is 27 September 2024.
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