The shortlist for the prestigious awards has been announced, with winners due to be unveiled at the Farm Shop & Deli Show Monday 8th April at the NEC Birmingham.
The judging panel for 2019 met in November in London for a day of evaluation and deliberation. Secret visits and mystery shops followed over the next three months to finalist the shortlist in advance of the announcement on 1st March of the category contenders for the 2019 Farm Shop & Deli Awards, in partnership with The Grocer.
Chair of judges and food and drink journalist and broadcaster Neil Barden commented: "I am delighted to continue to be involved with the Farm Shop & Deli Awards. It's a fabulous initiative for the sector and offers the best way to recognise and reward excellence for the UK's local, artisan and high street speciality retailers. These awards are so important for the industry. One really big factor is the quality of the judges. They're really right across the board from retailers, to producers and food and drink journalists."
Finalists
Baker of the year
Bondgate Bakery (Otley)
Hobbs House Bakery (Tetbury)
Lovingly Artisan (Kendal)
Mayfield Farm Bakery (Harlow)
Butcher of the year
Aubrey Allen (Leamington Spa)
Battlefield1403 Butcher (Shrewsbury)
Elderslie Butchers (Elderslie)
Hugh Black & Sons Butchers Ltd (Bathgate)
Surrey Hills Butchers (Oxshott)
Cheesemonger of the year
Cheese Etc, The Pangbourne Cheese Shop (Reading)
The Cheese Lady (Haddington)
The Cheese Shop (Chester)
The Little Cheesemonger (Rhuddlan)
Delicatessen of the year
Bayley & Sage (Battersea)
Broad Bean Delicatessen (Ludlow)
Forest Deli Ltd (Coleford)
Giddy Grocer (London)
Ginger Whale Delicatessen (Cleckheaton)
Guzzl (London)
MacFarlane's Delicatessen (London)
The Bees Country Kitchen (Chorley)
The Olive Tree Deli (Mold)
Thomas of Helmsley (Helmsley)
Large retailer of the year
Cannon Hall Farm Shop (Barnsley)
Chatsworth Estate Farm Shop (Bakewell)
Cobbs Farm Shop & Kitchen (Hungerford)
Newlyns Farm Shop (Hook)
Small retailer of the year
Battlefield1403 Farm Shop (Shrewsbury)
Eggs To Apples Farm Shop (Etchingham)
Minskip Farm Shop (Boroughbridge)
Parc Y Bocs, Burns Farm Shop (Kidwelly)
Tori and Ben's Farm (Kings Newton)
Waterperry Farm Shop (Oxford)
Welbeck Farm Shop (Worksop)
Fishmonger of the year
Fyne Fish (Cockermouth)
Foodhall of the year
Bakers & Larners of Holt (Holt)
Cunninghams Butchers & Food Hall (Newry)
Delifonseca Dockside (Liverpool)
Shrewsbury Market Hall (Shrewsbury)
Webbs Garden Centre (Droitwich)
Weetons Food Hall (Harrogate)
Greengrocer of the year
Andreas of Chelsea Green (London)
Newcomer of the year
Bayley & Sage (Battersea)
Broad Bean Delicatessen (Ludlow)
Forest Deli Ltd (Coleford)
Giddy Grocer (London)
Guzzl (London)
Minskip Farm Shop (Boroughbridge)
The Cheese Lady (Haddington)
The Little Cheesemonger (Rhuddlan)
Waterperry Farm Shop (Oxford)
Online business of the year
Farmers Choice Free Range Ltd (Fareham)
Farmison & Co (Ripon)
Milk and More (Aldershot)
World Products Ltd Indianmart (Markfield)
Village store/local shop of the year
Campbell's of Leyburn (Leyburn)
FINK (York)
Good Food (Catford)
Helperby Stores Deli & Cafe (York)
Regional winners will be selected from these finalists and announced at the show at 3:30pm on Monday 8th April, as well as the overall Farm Shop & Deli Retailer of the Year. To find out more, or to register for the show, visit www.farmshopanddelishow.co.uk