Selby charitable barrow expands into thriving farm shop
As the failure rate of new business start-ups increases year on year, a Selby farm shop business that was borne out of charitable beginnings has bucked the trend.
15 years ago, Bert's Barrow was launched as a way to raise vital funds for a defibrillator for the village of Hillam, near Selby. The brainchild of villagers Ian (Bert) Thompson and his wife Marlene, it started life as an old barrow that was dressed with local produce and left it at the front of the family farm with an honesty box.
Son, Jason Thompson takes up the story: "Over the years more and more people stopped by Bert's Barrow and Mum and Dad continued to source produce from as near to them as possible.
"Sadly, two years ago Dad died. This made it very difficult for Mum to carry on by herself in the business that they had built together. We couldn't let the legacy of Bert's Barrow pass away with him, so me and my wife, Charlotte Wells-Thompson, stepped forward take on the baton in March last year. We gradually built up our delivery rounds, taking fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables to people across an ever-expanding area as well as encouraging visitors to call by and choose their own selections."
Charlotte added: "By November, we were in a position to open up a barn to create a farm shop and added marmalades, jams, chutneys, cheese, bread, milk and local honey to our fruit and vegetable offering."
Thanks to the tenacity and vision of Charlotte, it is now a thriving farm shop, with a veg. box scheme and is a hub for local producers, including Joe from The Real Catch with fresh fish every Wednesday and Guild of Q butchers, C & G Starkey from Sherburn-in-Elmet.
Charlotte added: "We have so many plans to build on the success of the business and we are delighted to reveal that we now have planning permission to develop a full butcher's shop, bakery and tea room. However, we are doing everything in carefully planned stages so that work will not commence until next year."
Meanwhile customers who can't get to Bert's Barrow at Hillam can order farm shop produce, gifts, seasonal and ‘pick your own' veg. boxes online atwww.bertsbarrow.co.uk.
At Easter, Bert's Barrow became a stockist for award-winning Yorvale ice cream. The range includes new flavour, Sea Salted Caramel. "Yorvale ticks all the boxes for us," said Charlotte. "It's a local, family-owned, farm-based business that makes delicious ice cream from all natural ingredients and it's selling really well.
We are passionate about sourcing local produce and collect from the local growers farms, usually out of the field! We are rearing our own lamb this year as well as free range eggs, and have a small selection of strawberries, raspberries, gooseberry, redcurrants, plums and apples. We will be also be growing veg. in the future."
Yorvale has been producing ice cream from its farm based business for 26 years. Its ice cream and Yoryog frozen yogurt are available nationwide via selected wholesalers and from farm shops, independent retailers, visitor attractions and supermarkets throughout Yorkshire.
Ends
Photo: Jason, Charlotte and twins Hattie, left and Tilly
For more information or to arrange an interview with Lesley Buxton or Charlotte Wells-Thompson, please contact Tracey Baty at three60 marketing on
Direct line: 01430 871360
Mobile: 07971 961574
E mail:traceybaty@three60 marketing.co.uk
Web:www.three60marketing.co.uk
Notes to editors
Yorvale produces an extensive range of dairy ice cream and sorbets. For more information and stockist information, please call 01904 706702 or visitwww.yorvale.co.uk
For more information about Bert's Barrow, please visithttp://www.bertsbarrow.co.uk/
Yorvale's unique selling points include stress free cows, the use of only natural flavours and colours and locally sourced ingredients wherever possible.
Yorvale prides itself on its quality standards and has been awarded a grade A for BRC accreditation against issue 7 of the standard.