as launched a new farm shop at its Hampshire farm estate. The new 165 sq. m store, which will sell over 1000 products and employ 20 members of staff, has a strong emphasis on 'high quality and locally and regionally sourced food', according to the retailer.The store has been designed to showcase the food produced within the estate, which includes milk, apples, pears, apple juice, cider, chestnut mushrooms and Leckford free range chickens, which are already sold in Waitrose stores. The shop also sells the farm's own rapeseed oil.
Produce from over 60 local suppliers is also stocked in the store, helping to 'boost the local and regional food economy', according to Waitrose.
In addition to the shop is an 80 seat coffee shop, serving fresh food and drinks, with a log-burning stove, benches and sofas inside, and an outdoor dining area with views of the Estate’s nursery.
“Waitrose is in a very fortunate position to have its own farm, and the new shop, which is totally unique for Waitrose, can showcase not just the food produced on the Estate, but allow outstanding local and regional food producers to flourish," Iain Dalton, Head of Leckford Estate said.
"The shop will sell the highest quality food and if something proves popular, there is the potential for it to be sold more widely," he added.
