Success as Chatsworth farm shop scores double

Staff at Chatsworth's farm shop are celebrating a second triumph as regional winners of the Best Rural Retailer of the Year award from the Countryside Alliance.

Andre Birkett , Chatsworth Farm Manager with Lady Best

After being crowned best farm shop in the Midlands by the prestigious Farm Retailer of the Year award earlier this month, Chatsworth farm shop are shining again as Best Rural Retailer 2006 in Yorkshire, Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire.

Staff now have their fingers crossed for the national round of this distinguished competition, the winners of which will be announced at a reception at the House of Lords in February 2007.

André Birkett, farm shop manager, will be travelling to London to hear the results:

"We're over the moon to receive a second award, and all praise must go to the dedicated staff that work so hard to make the farm shop what it is today.

"The Best Rural Retailer award aims to support and promote rural communities, and this ethos is central to the local and seasonal philosophy we have here at Chatsworth farm shop.

"We source primarily from what is available on the estate, secondly from products produced by the estate's tenant farmers, thirdly from Derbyshire producers and then from other quality suppliers within the UK ."

Jill Grieve, Head of Communications at the Countryside Alliance said:

"We set up this competition in order to celebrate both local produce and the people who work so hard to promote and defend our farming heritage and our local communities. The competition seems to have struck a chord across the country and we are delighted to highlight the passion and dedication our retailers put into their work. Rural life simply could not survive without them."