Incredible Produce thanks to our Local Farmers
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Published 15 Apr 2021 in Trading Groups
We all use food to mark occasions that are important to us in life; weddings, birthdays, anniversaries. It is the vital way we celebrate anything that matters.
It’s how we connect to each other, celebrate the sunshine & most of all the opportunity to be reunited with friends & family. So why not make it a feast by incorporating some of the Best of Our Counties locally sourced produce and meat?👩🌾
Championing local produce
The Best of Our Counties team are incredibly proud to have continued to support local farmers and producers during the pandemic, where we have all been heartened by the gratitude for local businesses & the benefits this brings to our communities.
During these testing times there have been a few silver linings and several of our farmers have become Local Food Heroes, some such as Rod Adlington & Jess Vaughan have even become TV stars!
Farmers and food producers have had to adjust over the years, but in the last year, farmers adapted very quickly, affected by the closures of pubs, cafes and restaurants on three occasions. The opportunity our stores provided, ensured these suppliers had a platform to retail their meat was integral to the survival of their businesses, we were a vital financial lifeline especially in Lockdown 1.
Supplier highlight – Todenham Manor Farm
One of our farming families who worked extremely hard to keep their livelihoods going and put food on local tables is Todenham Manor Farm in the heart of the Cotswolds on the Gloucestershire/ Warwickshire border, just 3 miles from our Moreton in Marsh Food Market.
A 900-acre family farm based on land once owned by Westminster Abbey it has been producing & providing food quality food for the local community for generations. Now the farm is home to approximately 350 cattle, 220 pigs and a small lamb herd!
Gerry, Matt and the Todenham team don’t name their animals, but they might as well! All of the animals on the farm are lovingly cared for & it really does affect the quality of the meat they produce.
A stressed animal produces tougher meat & the majority of the meat they provide to our stores has travelled a matter of a few miles from being born and raised on the farm to being butchered in our in-house butchery so a truly sustainable option.
Gerry & Matt’s love and appreciation of food and a desire to serve the local communities we trade in has driven them to create a sensational summer range of BBQ lines & meat perfect for outdoor eating.
Creating a tailored customer experience
Todenham Farm Manor work closely with Tim Grazier, Master Butcher at Moreton in Marsh Food Market store in order to create a range tailored to the needs of our customers, many of whom Tim knows by name, he even knows how some regular customers like their steak cooked! Our butchery teams at Bourton on the Water & Chipping Norton have similar relationships and share their expertise on preparing and cooking meat for those special meals. This really is an exceptional level of customer service, enhancing the customer experience. It’s like having your own “Phone a Friend Chef!” & once our Food Market Chefs return the story will be complete. Todenham are also in the process of refurbishing two horse boxes into Takeaway Food Trucks in order to inspire & delight our shoppers/ members with the opportunity to Try Before You Buy!
Look out for the Todenham Food Truck at our Food Market stores
The Food Truck will be visiting Food Markets in Moreton in Marsh, Bourton on the Water & Chipping Norton starting mid-May in order to safely provide samples of their new BBQ range and to retail their delicious Pork Baps & Beef burger Range.
Partnering with Tracklements & Tubby Toms, (two of our local BBQ Sauce & Rub producers) the producers will offer top tips on how to maximise your alfresco cooking experience this summer.
No celebration or Feast is complete without dessert…🍰
Bee & Xavier Peloux, award-winning patisserie chefs, will be offering a sweet solution from their range of exquisitely handcrafted desserts. The support Midcounties provided to their business as they lost 80% of their trade when hospitality and the Gloucester Motorway Services closed, has literally been a lifeline. Take a look at the mouth-watering Summer Tiramisu if you need tempting.
We hope this gives you all a favour of what is starting to become available in our stores!
As we all start to enjoy the additional freedom as lockdown eases, barbecuing is one of the most fun, natural and honest way to cook food, it’s a wonderful way to spend a summer evening, weather permitting!
To find your nearest Midcounties Food store click here.