A FAMILY-RUN farm shop in Somerset has this month (April, 2020) officially launched its new online shop for people in the area who are self-isolating due to the Coronavirus.
The service will deliver essential food items to elderly and vulnerable people who live in a 15-mile radius of Rumwell Farm Shop, which is located on the A38 between Taunton and Wellington.
Anne Mitchell, Joint Owner of Rumwell Farm Shop, said: “We recently launched ‘Rumwell to you’ our new home delivery service but to make this even more efficient and streamline an online shop on our website seemed the next step.
“We have more than 330 products available via our online ordering system. We’ve all the essentials from milk, eggs and fresh bread to fruit and vegetables. Our butchery is also open as normal providing our own home-bred pork and Aberdeen Angus beef as well as chicken, lamb and other meats. The Deli counter is well-stocked with cooked meats and a variety of cheeses.”
Using the new online shop, elderly and vulnerable people or their family members on their behalf can order essential food items to be delivered direct to the recipient’s home address. We have a refrigerated van and are able to deliver fresh and frozen goods from our farm shop as well as any dry items.
For people who are able to collect their food ordered they can pick up their order from our patio area next to the café.
There will be a £30 minimum spend for deliveries within a 15-mile radius of Rumwell Farm Shop. There will be a charge for delivery of £5 per order. Collection from the farm shop is free and again there is a £30 minimum spend.
Anne added: “When delivering to home addresses, our delivery person will place the delivery on your doorstep and ring or knock. They will then step back two metres (6 feet) from the door until you open it. Please check the order and notify the delivery person of any concerns. You will be asked your name and this will be written on the delivery slip by our driver.
“We are so sorry, but our drivers will not be able to help customers unload groceries, this is to reduce the risk of potentially transferring the virus.”
Groceries will be carefully picked by a Rumwell staff member. Orders will need to be placed by people over the age of 18.
To place an order on Rumwell Farm Shop’s new online shop for delivery or collection, please visit https://bit.ly/2XDn2Cs.
Anne continued: “Even though our café is now closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic and subsequent restrictions, our staff members who would normally be working in there are now helping with organising the orders for our deliveries and collections.
“We’re so grateful we are still able to open each day and to be in a position to help the local community. We have also had some lovely comments from recipients of our deliveries so far and are pleased people are finding the service extremely useful.”
“We would also like to reassure all our customers that we are taking steps to protect them and our staff from the virus at the farm shop. All our staff have been instructed to more regularly sanitise their hands and to intensify their cleaning routines throughout the shop.
“We have advised staff to follow government advice surrounding medical care and self-isolation and we will of course be supporting them in every possible way.”
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 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 daughters-in-law Sophie and Donna.
Rumwell Farm Shop has a traditional butchery counter selling free range pork and Aberdeen Angus beef reared just four miles away on the family farm. There is also a delicatessen, bakery, jam kitchen, food hall, wine cellar and gift room.
Home grown potatoes are also still available, when in season, as well as everything from fruit, vegetables and groceries to plants, flowers, gifts and cards.
For more information, please call Rumwell Farm Shop, which is located in Rumwell between Taunton and Wellington, on 01823 461599, visit www.rumwellfarmshop.com, follow the company on Twitter at www.twitter.com/rumwellfarmshop or log on to www.facebook.com/Rumwellfarmshop.
