Hampshire’s farm shops are thriving as shoppers seek fresh, local produce over unreliable supermarkets
Winchester: More folks are ditching supermarkets for farm shops these days. It’s been 77 years since the first supermarket opened in the UK, and now people are looking for something more reliable.
Why? Well, supply chain issues have really frustrated shoppers. Just last year, a global bird flu outbreak caused a big egg shortage at many supermarkets.
But here’s the cool part: Westlands Farm Shop, which just opened its second store on Winchester High Street, managed to keep its egg stock thanks to local suppliers. They’re really making a name for themselves!
In December alone, they served over 7,000 customers, selling tons of goodies like 500 loaves of bread and 400 boxes of free-range eggs. And get this—they sold a whopping 5,000 pigs in blankets before Christmas!
Graham Collett, the owner, shared that supermarkets, once seen as convenient, have become pretty unreliable. More people are turning to local shops for fresh produce and to support sustainable farming.
Unlike supermarkets that import fruits from far away, Westlands uses recycled rainwater for their crops, growing delicious strawberries and raspberries right here.
They take pride in offering a variety of quality produce, including British free-range meats and freshly baked bread, all sourced within a 40-mile radius. It’s all about keeping it local!
