Back to the Garden wins Best Farm Shop in EDP Food Awards 2009

Fantastic reward for two years of dedicated hard work

If you had passed the shop at six o'clock on Monday 24th September even those of you who visit us regularly might not have recognised us! Staff from both the shop and the farm had put on their glad rags - black tie no less! - and were going by mini-bus to the EDP Food Awards ceremony in Norwich.

After a seriously delicious meal (all local and imaginative produce) we were at fever pitch.  Time for our category - could we? .... would we...?  Of course we did.  And I'm pleased to say our staff made more noise than anybody else's too!

According to the programme 'the judges were looking for exceptional farm retailers with a clear vision of how they intended to grow profitable businesses. In addition to passion for farming, high importance was placed on customer experience, including shop layout, presentation and - crucially - service skills.  The judges expected to see a high percentage of Norfolk produce available and also took into account the product knowledge and friendliness of staff'.

What an honour.  Tired, replete and very happy we all fell out of the mini-bus back at theshop in the early hours.  It's onwards and upwards from here - absolutely no chance that we will be resting on these marvelous laurels!