With many shoppers looking to make more sustainable and ethical purchasing decisions, locally-grown produce is an increasingly attractive option. The popularity of British-grown food has climbed significantly in recent years, accounting for around 58% of the food consumed in the UK in 2021 and 2022.

These trends present a potential opportunity for businesses to capitalise on the growing popularity of food grown in the UK. However, navigating the process of setting up a farm shop can be complicated and lengthy.

Perhaps you're a farmer looking for new ways to reach customers directly, or you simply have a passion for locally-grown food and would like to give new audiences access to quality produce. In this post, we'll cover some of the logistics of setting up such a venture. Please note that regulations are subject to change and these posts are not always updated. This list is not exhaustive.

If you plan to sell food and other consumable goods, it's important to consider that you are not only competing with other farm shops but also garden centres and supermarkets. These establishments can often offer lower prices, so it's crucial to have an attractive offer that sets you apart and encourages customers to choose your business. Products such as local honey, organic produce, sustainably farmed foods, and more can give your shop a unique selling point that will attract customers.

You'll need to consider how you will attract shoppers to your store. For example, posting in local social media groups and hanging up flyers on community bulletin boards are cost-effective ways to start reaching new audiences. Other options include distributing flyers by mail, using billboards, advertising in local magazines, and more. Additionally, displaying signs on the road can help alert people to your shop as they drive past. However, you'll need permission from your local authority before doing this.

An essential step when creating your business plan is ensuring that there will be enough demand for your farm shop to be successful. You will need to be able to cover startup costs and ongoing expenses such as electricity and wages. This is especially crucial if you plan to sell fresh produce, as unsold items can spoil and lead to significant losses. One way to determine if your farm shop will be viable is to assess your target audience and location and see if there are enough potential customers in your area willing to travel to buy your products.

Understanding your target audience(s) can help you ensure that there are enough people you'd like to reach in your local area and that your shop suits the needs of those individuals. Do you intend to reach parents of young children aiming to make healthier choices for their families? Would you like to create a relaxing space for retirees to shop on weekdays? Consider a variety of factors, such as the age, gender, income, routines, and hobbies held by your target audience(s) and use these to inform your decisions about your shop, such as branding, location, products offered, marketing spend, opening times, and more.

Ideally, your farm shop should be only a short drive away from a town or city to ensure that plenty of potential customers will be able to reach it. It's also helpful to consider whether your shop will be well stocked and unique enough to warrant a journey from your customers.

If you plan to construct a physical store, you will need to obtain all necessary permits from your local planning and building control authority before starting work on your new building. Depending on the specifics of your project, you may need to submit a full planning application, or you might be eligible for permitted development.

This process can be complicated; it's crucial to seek professional advice before beginning any construction work. At Punchard Group, we specialise in rural planning and can guide you through the planning process, gathering all of the drawings and documents you need and liaising with the relevant authorities on your behalf.

If you are a farmer and plan to add your farm shop to your agricultural property, your build might qualify for permitted development. Adjustments to agricultural planning constraints came into force in May 2024 to give farmers greater flexibility in the buildings they can renovate and construct to improve the resilience of their businesses. Our rural planning team can help you discern how you can take advantage of these new regulations.

You may need to conduct surveys on your property as a part of the planning process. For example, if you intend to create a car park for your farm shop, a splay survey will be necessary to ensure adequate visibility for cars entering and exiting the property and that other vehicles on the road can see these cars.

You will also need to obtain building control approval for your new farm shop. These regulations help ensure that your building is safe, energy efficient, structurally sound, has adequate drainage, and more. We can assist you in creating all the necessary drawings and documents that you will need to submit to your local authority for approval.

Many shoppers consider farm shops calming spaces to relax, browse, and discover new local foods. It's important to design your space to facilitate this experience. Creating an intuitive, flowing layout with a clear entry point that allows shoppers to explore your products at their own pace while ensuring they will see your best offers is a great way to achieve this.

Remember to consider the necessary amenities, such as water and electricity, and plan how to incorporate them into your property. Additionally, you may wish to allocate space in your farm shop for customer amenities like toilets. Providing these facilities will encourage customers to spend more time at your shop and potentially attract passersby to come in and make a purchase.

Once you have obtained all the necessary permits and finalised the designs for your shop, it's time to consider the logistics of how you'll construct your building. Entrusting your build to a construction manager can help reduce the hassle of organising and overseeing labour for your farm shop. At Punchard Group, we can assist you in managing your project from end to end using our network of trusted contractors.

Planning and setting up your physical farm shop are only the first steps of your journey. You'll need to account for many other considerations before you get started. For example, you'll require several types of insurance for your business (e.g., public liability, employer liability, etc.). Additionally, since you'll be dealing with food, your business needs to fully comply with food safety regulations (e.g, obtaining approval from environmental health, food hygiene certificates, etc.).

Are you considering building a farm shop on your property? We're able to help with a range of farm diversification projects. Our rural planning team can assist you with every step of the process of adding or converting structures to your land - from obtaining planning permission to completing the build or renovation. We'll work with you to create designs that allow you to get the most out of your space, facilitating business activity and creating a memorable customer experience.

We offer a free initial consultation in which we discuss your plans in detail and provide some guidance on your next steps. To book a call with our team, visit our contact page and leave your details, and we will be in touch shortly.