SEVEN Rumwell Farm Shop & Café employees have been recognised for notching-up between 10 and 25 years of long service as part of the company’s 25th anniversary celebrations this year (August 2022).
Andrew Morrison, Sally Anne Howe, Chris O’Connor, Wendy Holmes, Hannah Sydenham, Helen Warren and Jess Wyatt have all been praised for their continuous service, totalling collectively 111 years.
Anne Mitchell, Joint Owner of the Farm Shop, which is located between Taunton and Wellington on the A38, says: “Huge congratulations and a big ‘thank you’ to our magnificent seven for their ongoing commitment to our success and for the tremendous support they have and continue to provide to us, their colleagues and our customers.
“One of the seven, Andrew, has been with us for 25 years, so was here at the very start of the business. He originally came pea picking on the farm, then was a Saturday boy in the Shop, before he did an apprenticeship and became a full-timer also in the Farm Shop. In 2021, he joined our award-winning Café team.
“When Andrew worked in the Shop, he always said that he’d like a new gold forklift when he’d been with us 25 years, as he used to drive the forklift when deliveries came in, so we bought him a little toy one and painted it gold! We’re incredibly lucky to have had his and all our other long servers support through the years. Without our wonderful team, our business wouldn’t be as successful as it is today.
“Sally has been with us for 22 years and started helping originally on the farm, looking after our free-range hens and collecting, grading and packing our eggs. She then started helping at the Farm Shop in various roles from about 2005. She is incredibly hardworking and committed to her role.
“Chris is our General Manager and is integral to the smooth running of everything onsite. He’s been with us for 15 years and we’re indebted to him for his support through some of the most important years in our development, as well as looking forward to exciting things in the pipeline too. Chris joined us as a butcher for several years and then set up the cake kitchen.
“He kept bringing me cakes, which he’d made at home until I got the message! After that he became our General Manager.
“Wendy also joined us in 2007. Wendy initially worked in our Butchery and then moved to our Delicatessen counter. More recently she went into our Deli kitchen to make all the lovely things they serve there. She’s a marvellous team member!
“Hannah has celebrated 14 years with us. She started as one of our temporary Christmas helpers, then took a full-time role in the Deli. This led her to managing the Deli until she went on maternity leave to have her first baby in 2020. She has subsequently returned as Assistant Deli Manager and is a highly motivated and diligent work colleague.
“Both Helen and Jess have been with us for 10 years. Helen started in the Farm Shop and then went into our Bakery more than four years ago and now manages the delicious cakes we make. She’s very proactive and super hardworking. Jess works in our Shop and is a key member of our serving team. She is dedicated and well-known and liked by our customers.
“Each of our long servers have received a gift from us and a certificate to mark their commitment. While we’ve honoured our long servers this summer as part of our 25th anniversary celebrations this year, I would like to thank everyone who’s involved in making us one of the best Farm Shops and Cafés in Somerset. We couldn’t do it without you!”
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.
Due to customer demand, the product range soon increased, and the business grew. David and Anne’s sons, James and Jack, are now also involved, as well as their daughters-in-law, Sophie and Donna.
Rumwell Farm Shop has a traditional Butchery counter selling its home-reared and free-range pork and Rumwell Angus beef. There is also a Delicatessen, Bakery, Jam Kitchen, Food Hall, Wine Cellar and Gift Room.
Its own, home-grown potatoes are available, when in season, as well as everything from fruit, vegetables and groceries to gifts and cards.
The Rumwell Café is a large and spacious building. 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. Families are welcome to the Café and there is a menu especially for children. It also serves afternoon teas, Sunday carvery and is licensed to sell alcoholic beverages.
For more information, please call Rumwell Farm Shop on 01823 461599, visit www.rumwellfarmshop.com.
