THE TEAM at a Somerset farm shop are celebrating once again this year after being awarded two more Golds in the latest round of 2024 Taste of the West Awards (July 2024).
Rumwell Farm Shop, located on the A38 between Taunton and Wellington, received the prestigious Gold Awards in both the Farm Shop and Café/Tearoom categories.
Partner, Anne Mitchell, says: “We’re so pleased to have received these two Golds, which highlight the overall experience our customers receive and the products they can expect when they visit us. Once again, it’s a testament to our team and I would like to thank them all for their hard work and devotion, without which this wouldn’t be possible. We’re so proud of these awards and all we’ve done together to achieve them.
“We received some excellent feedback from the judges who visited our Shop and commented on how ‘the team at Rumwell Farm Shop display knowledge, pride, professionalism and warmth as soon as you walk in the door’.”
The judges were also impressed by the Farm Shop’s product range and its focus on Somerset and Westcountry sourced items, and the team’s high standards of customer care.
Sophie Mitchell, Farm Shop Partner, explains: “They said our ‘range of regional produce and producers was exceptional, with a wonderful focus on our own home grown and reared produce but also suppliers that are very local to us as well. They also said it was ‘clear that we knew our customers and cared about them too’.
“Feedback from the Café visit included how it was ‘a wonderful destination, well located for the M5, with great ambience, and delicious food’. We couldn’t be more thrilled with all these comments from the judges and our wonderful 2024 Golds, which acknowledge the commitment every team member makes to giving our customers a great experience. They also showcase the products we stock and those we make onsite in our kitchens.”
The Farm Shop has already scooped eight 2024 Taste of the West Awards for its homemade products – four category Golds and four Silvers. It won Golds for its Bakery-made fruity teacakes, its Butchery’s dry cured smoked back bacon – featuring its own farm-reared, free-range pork – and its Deli’s chicken and ham pie.
The team also won Gold for its Gluten Free toffee apple crumble tart, baked in our inhouse bespoke GF Kitchen and scooped Silvers for its GF milk chocolate teacake, Bakery mince pies, Jam Kitchen pink grapefruit marmalade and Butchery free range pork and apple burger.
Taste of the West, established in 1991, is the regional food and drink trade organisation for the South West of England.
It rewards the region’s exceptional food and drink identity and works to develop the very best of the area’s industry.
Rumwell Farm Shop is no stranger to Taste of the West Awards. In 2023, it picked-up awards for its homemade products including six category Golds.
To add to this, last year it received a prestigious Gold Award in the Farm Shop category at the Taste of the West Awards.
It was then named ‘Champion’ Best Farm Shop at the South West Taste of the West finals in November 2023 and also scooped the top prize for its instore made Butchery beef burgers, using beef from its farm.
It was a finalist in the Large Farm Shop of the Year category in the 2023 national Farm Retail Awards too and won nine Taste of the West Golds in 2022 as well as scooping the title of overall Champion Bacon in the 2022 Taste of the West Awards as well.
Rumwell Farm Shop is an independent, family-run, award-winning business owned by the Mitchell family. It was originally a potato store, when David and Anne Mitchell began selling their potatoes and free-range eggs at the gate more than 25 years ago.
Due to customer demand, the range of products soon increased, and the Farm Shop grew into the place it is today. David and Anne’s sons, James and Jack, are now also involved in the business, as well as their wives, Sophie and Donna.
The Shop has a traditional Butchery counter selling its home-reared and free-range pork and Rumwell Angus beef. Also onsite is the new, purpose-built Rumwell Orchard events space, a Delicatessen, Bakery, Jam Kitchen, Food Hall, Wine Cellar, Gluten Free Kitchen, Food To Go service and Gift Room.
The food prepared in the Café kitchen is sourced from the Farm Shop, the Mitchell family farm, which is just four miles away, and other regional suppliers. The Café kitchen has Coeliac UK’s Gluten Free accreditation.
For more information, please call Rumwell Farm Shop, which is located in Rumwell between Taunton and Wellington, on 01823 461599 or visit www.rumwellfarmshop.com.
