Samuel's Family Farm Shop in Walpole St Andrew sees huge spike in business since pandemic
The owner of a Walpole St Andrew farm shop has seen a massive upsurge in business since the start of the pandemic.
His own personal experience falls in line with recent research by rural insurer NFU Mutual which shows that 40 per cent of people plan to buy more from farm shops and local producers this Christmas.
Farmer Ben Human set up Samuel’s Family Farm Shop and Butchers in 2015 on the site of redundant glasshouses on his family’s 80-acre arable farm on the outskirts of the village.
His family has farmed in the Wisbech area for four generations.
Ben built the shop himself and took on two local people to run it, helped by his wife, Gemma. Selling a range of locally-sourced meat, vegetables and other provisions, the shop was an instant success. With the business growing significantly in recent years, Ben has extended the shop twice and now employs 22 staff, with two additional staff taken on this year.
He has just completed a new restaurant ready to open when Covid-19 rules allow.
Ben said: “At the start of the first Covid-19 lockdown, business trebled overnight, and our team worked round the clock to make the shop Covid safe and source extra produce to meet demand."
To help local people, including those shielding and unable to leave their homes, Ben put in place deliveries, a take-away service – and even ‘click and collect’ which brought new customers to the shop for the first time, many of whom became regular customers.
For Christmas, Samuel’s is stocking an increased range of locally-sourced meat and other seasonal produce.
“A long-standing farming friend rears our Norfolk turkeys and we pride ourselves in putting together the most wonderful Christmas hampers. We also offer luxurious festive cream teas that can make a perfect Christmas gift for a loved one,” said Ben.
With many families expected to have smaller gatherings this year, Samuel’s is keen to make sure the shop can cater for everyone whatever the size of gathering required by Covid-19 restrictions.
Apart from things like bananas which can’t be sourced locally, all produce, meat and veg comes from farmers and local producers, which helps support the local economy and employment.
“Samuel's is about getting things right – the right produce, from spuds to best cuts of beef and giving the right service so our customers feel special and keep coming back,” said Ben.
“We also want to do right for the local area, supporting farmers and providing jobs for young people.
“I can’t thank our staff enough for the way they have worked to look after customers through the pandemic. It’s meant long hours, huge changes in the ways they work – and they have kept smiling. Having the right people has been crucial.”
