Award-winning Derbyshire farm shop Croots is expanding to open seven days a week as a result of customer demand.
The move has created three new jobs at the farm shop, which is based at Farnah House Farm, Wirksworth Road, near Duffield.
From May 5th the farm shop will be opening its doors on Mondays, as well as the rest of the week. At the same time, the shop will be extending its Sunday opening hours and will be open from 9am to 5pm – giving customers extra time to shop at the store and visit Shires Eatery.
A BBQ will be held at Croots Farm Shop on May 5th to mark the expansion, with special offers available in the store.
“Traditionally, since opening in June 2008, we have closed Croots on Mondays, but due to customer demand we’ve decided to open on Mondays in the future and to open longer on Sundays,” said owner Steve Croot.
“This is really good news for us, as it reflects our growing popularity, which is in turn a reflection of the increasing interest in good quality food with provenance. I’m also delighted that we’ve been able to provide more jobs for local people.”
The expansion has created one chef’s position, plus two additional shop assistant roles, which have now been filled. It will boost the Croots team to 24.
Croots Farm Shop sells products from more than 40 producers from within a 50-mile radius, as well as items from further afield. It is renowned for its high quality sausages and meat products which are made in house.
It has won a number of Great Taste Awards, which are regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of the fine food industry, and was a runner-up in the Best UK Independent Food Retailer 2010 category of the Observer Food Monthly Awards and named in The Independent’s top 50 best food shops the year before.
Earlier this year, owner Steve Croot was given the accolade of Derbyshire Local Food Hero 2014 at the Derbyshire Food and Drink Awards.
“Just as we launched Croots Farm Shop the recession started, but we’ve had amazing support from customers, staff and our suppliers, and Croots has gone from strength to strength – so much so that we’ve expanded our butchers’ department and last year we extended our Shires Eatery to cater for demand,” said Steve.
“I’m very pleased that we are now in a position to expand our opening hours too, and I’d like to thank our customers and staff for their loyalty.”
From May 5th, Croots Farm Shop will be open every day from 9am to 5pm (Shires Eatery until 4.30pm).
For more information visit www.croots.co.uk
