• AUG / SEP 2020
H . C AIREY & SONS LTD LICENSED ABATTOIR AND CUTTING PLANT
providing a full service for farmers , butchers and the catering industry . We are proud to be associated with Lake District Farmers
LAKE DISTRICT FARMERS 11
Innovative Food Ingredients is a local and family-owned business who is proud to supply Lake District Farmers
SPECIALISTS IN THE INNOVATION , CREATION , SOURCING AND DISTRIBUTION OF QUALITY FOOD INGREDIENTS
Snowdrop Villa , Ayside , Grange-Over-Sands , Cumbria , LA11 6JE
015395 31237 aireysfarmshop @ hotmail . com www . aireysfarmshop . com a simple and effective system - Cumbrian drivers drive to London overnight , meeting the London driver ’ s early morning with a full van and bringing the empty one back to Cumbria .
Despite the careful and steady expansion , success meant they were fast outgrowing their current premises and as the next stage in the company ’ s expansion was to maximise on the growing retail market of online sales as well , it was time to look for new premises .
They looked for suitable premises that would give the company a long-term future and scope for continued growth . They realised that the only way to get exactly what they wanted was to have a purpose-made building . A site was found in Ulverston , finance secured , and the Gold award winning Caddick Construction were engaged .
The plan was to commence the online retail once the new Ulverston plant had been operational for two years . A well-considered strategic plan .
No-one could have predicted what was around the corner - COVID 19 ! Just as construction of the new plant was complete , but before it had been fitted out , 97 % of the company ’ s turnover disappeared overnight .
Absolutely daunting . Dan , Russell , Hayden and Phil sat down and had to consider options fast or risk going under , which was not an option for this progressive team . No way had they come this far to give up . Thankfully most of their farmers had other outlets , apart from people such as Robin and Andrew Mackay who had to sell some of their animals and concentrate solely on their breed conservation .
The saving grace for many was the crazy stock-piling and panic-buying in the supermarkets , which meant a lot of high-quality meat went for much lesser prices and straight into people ’ s freezers .
The decision was made to close LDF in the short term . The furlough scheme was a life-saver and meant they didn ’ t have to lose anyone . The Ulverston plant fit-out was put on hold and they needed to kickstart the online retail fast !
The very first thing they did was to put together hampers and launch on Instagram . It was frenetic at the start , calls and texts were coming in and everyone in the office was playing pass the parcel around the office with the payment terminal . One big positive which they hadn ’ t considered was that this was generating something they weren ’ t used to – instant cash ! They then got their IT provider , Miller Waite , to put a website together fast which they could further develop . As with all things LDF , the refinement and development were taken seriously .
Phil , in conjunction with Nathan , Founder of Food Story Media , who is a Michelin standard chef by trade , has now refined and developed what is a superb website that tells the story of LDF , showcases not only some of their farmers but also contains quotes from some of their famous chefs , Marcus Wareing , Clare Smyth MBE , Michel Roux Jnr , Jason Atherton , Angela Hartnett MBE to name but a few . What really makes the site come alive , is Phil ’ s eclectic design that combines sound video , text and stunning photography that has all been shot socially distanced using clever camera angles .
The site contains all the meat boxes that are on offer and the opportunity to create your own selection . Already Phil and Nathan are re-shooting the box examples to enhance them further .
The online retail side has taken off and gathered considerable momentum , which is remarkable when they only officially reopened the second week in June . The restaurant trade has begun again , albeit slowly , as not all have re-opened and even when they have , they are doing fewer covers in a sitting .
The new plant in Ulverston is due to open shortly , which we will definitely be reporting on .
So , from the brink of potential disaster , Lake District Farmers have come out the other side stronger and with another powerful online string to their already significant bow .
Ray Armstrong , if he ’ s looking down , will be smiling and admiring that lasting legacy .
For personalised product ideas and bespoke demonstrations , please get in touch
sales @ ifing . co . uk www . ifing . co . uk 0161 331 4923
grp-group . co . uk
Specialising in converting high quality , temperaturecontrolled panel vans
A Good Degree Better
Like Lake District Farmers , we are judged by those that know
Tel : 0113 255 4664
GRP Group . Richardshaw Business Centre , Richardshaw Road , Grangefield Industrial
Estate , Pudsey , Leeds . LS28 6RW .
GRP Group are proud to have supported Lake District Farmers from the very beginning