Welbeck farm shop hopes lockdown shopping habits here to stay after helping supply chain survive COVID-19

Research by the Farm Retail Association (FRA) found that 92 per cent of farm retailers surveyed saw a “significant” rise in new customers over the first seven weeks of lockdown as stores offered local alternatives to under-pressure supermarkets.

As a result, the sector has processed an estimated 1.4million-plus orders for home delivery or collection nationwide over the same period.

The Welbeck shop has risen to the challenges by adding new measures to enable social distancing including a contactless collection service, allowing customers to shop for friends and family outside their household.

Manager Oliver Stubbins said: “We have worked hard to adapt quickly to ensure our customers continue to have access to quality, fresh locally-produced food without disruption.

“The feedback we have hadd from new and returning customers has been hugely rewarding and gives me enormous hope that they will keep shopping with us, long after the pandemic ends.”

The ingenuity of farm retailers has helped protect hundreds of jobs and thousands of suppliers in difficult economic circumstances.

According to the FRA, the addition of new services alone allowed 73 per cent of shops to either hire extra staff or furlough fewer employees than they expected to.

Members have also been supporting community groups, local school hubs, frontline NHS staff and other key workers with donations.

FRA chairman Rob Copley said: “The last couple of months have clearly shown that farm retailers can react nimbly to customer demands because of their size, independence and direct relationships with local farmers.

“They are demonstrating that they are both caring neighbours and viable alternatives to the supermarkets, with shorter supply chains and lower carbon footprints.”

He added: “Farm shops are at the beating heart of communities across the country.

“We just hope customers keep coming back to support them for years to come.”