Popular Harborough business wins national award - and thanks its amazing customers

The winning team at Farndon Field Farm Shop receive their award.

A top Market Harborough shop has beaten off tough competition from all over the country to win a dazzling national award.

Farndon Fields Farm Shop on Farndon Road, Harborough, has scooped the Shop of the Year Awards 2020 in the farm shop category.

The national competition is run by the Guild of Fine Food and features shops from across the UK and Ireland.

The winning team at Farndon Fields Farm Shop

The glittering ceremony was held at Fodder Farm Shop in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, on Monday night March 9.

The coveted accolade is the latest in a string of awards owners Kevin and Milly Stokes have landed since setting up the much-loved shop back in 1985.

And it crowns 35 years of growth and ever-growing popularity for the Stokes family as their business – including a busy restaurant - has gone from strength to strength.

The couple’s thrilled daughter Nicola Stokes, the shop’s marketing manager, said: “We are absolutely over the moon to have won this prestigious award!

“This is all down to our amazing team who work together to make Farndon Fields what it is.

“They are all absolutely brilliant and every one of them deserves this award.

“We are very proud of this accolade especially as it comes in our 35th year!”

Nicola added: “This will certainly add to the celebrations for 2020.

“A huge thank you to our customers whose support is hugely appreciated.

“We couldn’t have won this award without your support, thank you!”

Shop of the Year is an accreditation that recognises and promotes retail excellence. Independent retailers from all over the UK and Ireland compete to win these top awards, covering the key areas of retail skills, food know-how and operations.

“We have 35 years of experience working with small businesses, deli people, cheesemongers, farm shops and grocers. “We’ve been putting a spotlight on them, through Shop of the Year, for quite some time too,” said Nicola.

“The Guild of Fine Food understands what makes a successful retailer.

“Shop of the Year celebrates the wonderful things small shops and independent retailers are achieving.”