Derbyshire farm shop Croots has been named as a place that’s serving up some of England’s top steak after scooping a silver in England’s Best Sirloin Steak 2015 competition.
The farm shop near Duffield has won scores of awards for its sausages, pies and meat products, but this is the first award that’s been dedicated solely to the steak.
Store owner Steve Croot, who is the current Derbyshire Food Hero, said: “This is fantastic news for Croots. We do get a lot of compliments for our steaks, and they are very popular with our customers, but it’s really great to hear that the judges in these awards felt the same.”
The awards were organised by EBLEX, the trade organisation for the English beef and sheep industry and were part of the first ever Quality Standard Mark Excellence Awards, which were developed to recognise and reward quality, innovation and excellence in beef and lamb production.
Beef sold at Croots is reared by farmers Richard and Margaret Heath at Hazelwood Hall Farm, Hazelwood, near Belper in Derbyshire, and prepared by the shop’s team of butchers. Sirloin steak is taken from the back of the animal
Croots, which is based at Farnah House Farm, Wirksworth Road, launched in June 2008 and is renowned for its extensive and award-winning meat counter, which has doubled in size due to demand since the shop first opened.
It employs three full-time butchers and two assistant part-time butchers, as part of a 28-strong workforce employed in the shop and the restaurant, Shires Eatery, which has also doubled in size since opening.
Croots Farm Shop is open daily from 9am to 5pm (Shires Eatery until 4.30pm). Croots runs Fresh Fish Thursdays between 9am and 1pm on Thursdays.
For more information visit www.croots.co.uk
