Rustic style of setting up shop near Selby

The converted agricultural buildings near Selby that are now Brayton Farm Shop on Mill Lane may be a new enterprise for the family but they have a proven track record in business. Their last big venture was Victoria Garden Centre in Featherstone that they built and ran for 15 years until they were approached by a PLC to buy it from them in 2004.

They are used to making things work with whatever they have turned their hand to and Lillian believes their farming contacts over many years and experience with livestock stands them in good stead.

“We know farmers,” says Lillian. “Our family has a long background in agriculture. Graham was brought up on a farm and worked as a farmer’s boy while at school. We had a flock of 580 Mule ewes and 200 beef cattle at Barkisland and we’ve had cattle where we live now at Monk Fryston. We still have livestock on our farm today as we look after 2,750 pigs on a bed and breakfast basis. They come in as little weaners and we take them through to 12 weeks when they go on to fattening units.”

Understanding how farming works is one thing, venturing into the farm shop business is quite another.

“Edward has been the inspiration behind it. He’s very good at retail and believes that although farm shops are sometimes perceived as being expensive it doesn’t have to be that way. Our view is that a farm shop should be full of local produce and it has to be top quality, but again that doesn’t mean it has to cost the earth.

“We bought this property along with the house about eight years ago and our location is just right. We’re close to a town, but importantly for a farm shop we’re just far enough out of it.

“One thing our customers have commented on since we opened has been how well priced our produce is for the quality we’re offering. We stock wonderful well-reared beef from Tony Lawn of Barkston Ash who Graham has known for years. Tony is wholly committed to his Limousin X cattle’s welfare. We also stock great lamb and pork from Leonard Wood & Sons in Scammonden.”

Tina and sister Lindy are at the helm on the shop floor and understand how important it is for farm shops to find that happy medium between giving a rural experience whilst ensuring a pleasant, fresh, clean environment that today’s customer is looking for and in so doing getting the balance right between town and country.

“What you have to be aware of is that there is a younger generation that like the farm shop ethos but they also want it to look and feel good and up to date,” says Tina. “In some ways purely coming out of the town and shopping here is enough to give a good feeling, but it is important that all our customers feel comfortable while they are here. That’s why we’ve given a rustic feel to our displays of fruit and vegetables but also given a modern look to the shop overall.”

Lillian and Graham met when they were working in a woollen mill in Scammonden and then set about everything from garden centres to farming with gusto.

“This is a different type of retail from the garden centre,” says Lillian. “You have to check everything daily because with food you have to be totally on the ball all the time. We’re already getting customers from Doncaster, Goole, York and this side of Leeds.

“There is a following for farm shops and people like to try new ones but with us it’s more than a following, we’re getting new customers that we’re turning into regulars. We’re already planning on expanding.”

The farm shop has a coffee shop/café, deli, butchery and bakery and a staff of 20. Lillian’s grandson Scott is one of the three bakers.

“We bake fresh every day making several hundred sausage rolls, steak pies and pork pies all here on site.”