Pictured: Steve Croot with Ann and David Wayne
Derbyshire farm shop Croots has welcomed its 250,000th customer
with a bottle of bubbly and a gift.
Owner Steve Croot marked the occasion by presenting David and
Ann Wayne with a picnic hamper and a bottle of sparkling wine as
they became the quarter of a millionth customer to go through the
tills of the farm shop in Wirksworth Road, near Duffield.
"I am very pleased to congratulate Mr and Mrs Wayne on becoming
our 250,000th customer at Croots Farm Shop," said Steve, who opened
the shop in June 2008. "When we realised we were getting close to
such a significant figure we started keeping an eye on the numbers
on the till roll and were ready when they arrived at the tills.
"It's been great for Croots to have such a loyal band of
customers, and I'd like to thank them all for their support over
the last three and a half years."
Croots Farm Shop & Kitchen, based at Farnah House Farm, now
employs 21 staff, and sells products from around 40 suppliers and
producers within a 50-mile radius of the shop.
"When we opened Croots, it was always our intention to help
support the local economy, as well as creating a place to shop for
great-tasting food and drink," said Steve.
David and Ann, who live in Ambergate, first shopped at Croots
shortly after it opened. They had popped in for lunch at Croots
Kitchen before buying a few items in the shop, and were very
pleased when they discovered the significance of their visit.
"I was bemused at first then pleasantly surprised," said
David.
The couple have a number of favourite items at Croots, and
especially like the cheese scones.
"We like pretty much everything there from joints of meat to
sausages and bacon," added David
Croots Farm Shop is renowned for its quality sausages and pies,
and has won numerous awards. Last year it was a runner-up in the
Best UK Independent Food Retailer 2010 category of the Observer
Food Monthly Awards. The year before, it was named in The
Independent's top 50 best food shops.
Croots Farm Shop and Kitchen is open Sundays from 10am to 4pm
(café until 3.45pm), and from Tuesday to Saturday from 9am
to 5pm (café until 4.30pm). It is closed on Mondays.