Speciality Food Magazine - April 2026

18 The Feed. Retail As the sun comes out and the daffodils start to peak their heads up, spring is the time when people think about regrowth and nature, so naturally this is reflected in shopping baskets. Every spring, I see a rise in popularity of UK produce, such as asparagus, rhubarb and strawberries. When it comes to these spring-time staples, customers know that it’s worth selecting produce that has been nurtured and cared for, then harvested at their peak of condition. People understand that buying fresh means they will be rewarded with enhanced taste, compared to artificially forced or stored produce. No fresh food that benefits from being driven around the country at considerable expense in both environmental and monetary terms. Customers understand this too, which is why they turn to local suppliers when their own gardens wake up. Seasonality means local As well as wanting fresh produce with the best taste, customers are also increasingly conscious of where their food comes from and its local impact, so want to support suppliers closer to home. In spring we see more people reaching for products they know are from local businesses and continue to pick up produce grown on the Belvoir Estate on our working farm. Our network of local suppliers is key to helping us give our customers what they want. We work closely with local farmers who are passionate about ensuring that the countryside is managed well for the good of the crops and livestock. All of this makes good business sense, but it also is becoming increasingly important for customers who truly care about the stories behind their food. An annual opportunity In the UK, where the seasons impact our daily lives so much, spring offers a strong opportunity every year to show customers that you understand what they want. Throughout my 60 years in the industry, I’ve witnessed many different trends come and go. But great taste is like great style – it will never go out of fashion. Every day, I have conversations in the shop about where and how the produce grows. These personal conversations are so important and help the customer have confidence in what they’re bringing to their kitchen table. Selling Spring Spring offers a strong opportunity every year to show customers that you understand what they want MARK MAXWELL , MANAGER OF BELVOIR FARM SHOP Winners of FarmRetail Awards announced Sponsored by Fieldfare, the awards highlight the innovation and hard work that goes on behind the scenes of the businesses championing British produce – including farm shops, cafés, restaurants, butcheries, farmers markets, PYO operators and trade suppliers. Host of this year’s awards and food and drink broadcaster, Nigel Barden, said, “Farm retail is an exciting and fast-moving sector of the economy, which makes presenting these awards so rewarding. Each year, the advances made by farm retail businesses astound me, and 2026 exemplifies this. The finalists demonstrate why farm retail businesses are adored by customers, offering excellent service, produce, knowledge and flair, ensuring people return time and time again.” The 2026 award winners are: Large Farm Shop of the Year, sponsored by Fieldfare: Strawberry Fields Farm Shop, Devon Small Farm Shop of the Year, sponsored by Cress Co: Lower Clopton Farm Shop, Warwickshire Farmers Market of the Year, sponsored by World Farmers Markets Coalition: Queens Park Farmers Market, run by London Farmers Market, London Pick Your Own of the Year: Craigies Farm, Fife, Scotland Farm Café/Restaurant of the Year, sponsored by Farm Shop & Deli Show: Newton FarmCafé at Newton Farm Foods, Bath and North East Somerset Farm Shop Butchery of the Year, sponsored by Angel Refrigeration Ltd: Hutchinson Hobbs Ltd, Stockton on Tees Rising Star of the Year, sponsored by Pleydell Smithyman Ltd: Goat Shed, Norfolk Associate Member of the Year, sponsored by Speciality & Fine Food Fair: Cotswold Fayre, Berkshire Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by COOK Trading Ltd: Chris &Wendy Barton, Canalside Farm, Staffordshire The Farm Retail Awards celebrate the passion, innovation and sheer hard work that define our sector, and are the perfect way to mark the opening of our annual Conference and Trade Exhibition, today. Our winners are prime examples of how farm retailers can successfully build strong community connections and memorable cus-tomer experiences. We are immensely proud of all of our finalists and winners - they repre-sent the very best of farm retail and reflect the strength, resilience and vibrancy of our industry Ben Loughrey, chair of the FRA Retail deemedone of the riskiest sectors towork inby newRisk Index fromonline training provider iHasco The Risk Index analysed Health & Safety Executive (HSE) data alongside an internal survey of UK businesses, and ranked industries on factors including workplace accident rates, fatal injuries, mental health-related absences and HSE enforcement action. The retail sector scored 85 out of a possible 90 – the same score as construction. In 2025, 75,000 incidents were reported across the retail sector. Nathan Pitman, managing director at iHasco, said, “The data from our 2026 Risk Index is a clear wake-up call. When Health & Safety procedures and staff wellbeing are sidelined, the consequences are severe, from injuries and rising absence rates to reputational damage that can be difficult to reverse. “We’re seeing that businesses that treat training as a continuous habit — rather than a once-a-year exercise — are far more confident in their safety culture. “Workplace safety doesn’t need to be daunting. With regular training and clear procedures, organisations can turn complex compliance into simple, everyday behaviour. “In 2026, a proactive safety culture is one of the strongest ways to protect people, performance and long-term growth.” HELEN DICKINSON , CHIEF EXECUTIVE AT THE BRC The implementation of the Employment Rights Act, which became law in January, is having a sizeable impact on retailers who are looking to reduce the hours of staff (52%) and freeze recruitment (32%), says the British Retail Consortium. They hope to make up for the smaller workforce by driving higher productivity (68%) and invest in automation (61%). “The economy is expected to remain fragile, with weak wage growth, unemployment rising, and low consumer confidence, all pointing towards falling demand. At the same time, businesses face sharply higher costs, from rising input prices and wage bills to new burdens created by government policy. “We all want more high- quality, well-paid jobs. But retail has already lost 250,000 roles in the past five years, and youth unemployment is climbing fast. The Employment Rights Act is the biggest shakeup of employment rules in a generation, and how it is delivered will make or break job opportunities. Done well, the reforms can raise standards while supporting flexible and entry-level roles that are vital for people whose lives don’t fit a fixed 9-5 pattern. If the Government fails to consider business needs on policies including guaranteed hours and union rights, they will add complexity and reduce flexibility, ultimately stripping away entry-level and part-time opportunities at precisely the moment the country needs themmost." However, only 49% describe themselves as ‘very confident’, noticeably lower than the figure across the all-sector respondent base (62%) . This drops to 32% for independent retailers with revenues under £500,000 . 90% The UK retail sector employs over 2.5 million workers, and over 90% of SME retailers are confident about the future of their businesses.