| Finance
Somerset farm scoops
HSBC funding to launch
new gelato business
A family-run farm in Somerset has launched a new gelato
business just in time for summer after securing a six-
figure finance package from HSBC.
aul and Rachel
Candy, who are
third-generation
dairy farmers at
Pyle Farm in
Frome, have used
the HSBC finance to set up Palette
and Pasture Somerset Gelato. The
funding has enabled the couple to
build a small gelato factory on-site
and purchase the equipment
needed to manufacture the new
product. This includes a 120-litre
pasteuriser, walk-in freezer and
small trailer to promote the
business at local markets.
P
The gelato will be churned from
the milk of 200 cows that graze on
the farm’s 500 acres of land and
will be flavoured with home-grown
fruit such as apples, plums and
blackberries. Four new seasonal
jobs have been created as a result
of the farm’s expansion.
Paul Candy, co-owner of Palette
and Pasture Somerset Gelato,
said: “We’re always looking for
ways to expand into new markets
and our agricultural relationship
manager at HSBC, James Ashton,
has helped us to realise our
ambitions with this new venture.
44 | Farming Monthly | July 2018
We can’t wait to share our gelato
with the local community this
summer.”
Euryn Jones, HSBC’s Regional
Agriculture Director for South West
and Wales, said: “We’re delighted
to have supported Pyle Farm for
35 years, helping the business
become the success it is today.
Rachel and Paul were keen to take
the farm in a fresh direction and
we’re pleased to have helped
them open up a whole new
revenue stream ahead of
summer.”
Pyle Farm was founded by
“We can’t wait to share our
gelato with the local community
this summer”
Paul’s grandfather and has been
selling milk in Somerset for over
80 years. The new gelato will be
sold across local agricultural
shows in the south of England
including Frome’s independent
market, as well as direct from Pyle
Farm.
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