Beginner’s Guide on Starting a Farm Shop Business in the United Kingdom

Your idea of starting a farm shop business in the United Kingdom will come to fruition once you have that determination. Today, you can get fresh produce and meal boxes delivered to your door, thanks to farm shops. The list of high-quality farm shops providing organic food delivery services is growing each day. It is fascinating how they offer one-off purchases for special occasions, organic subscription boxes minimizing plastic packages. Check out this guide on starting a farm shop business in the United Kingdom.

 

Industry Practice

Farm shops in the UK supply a variety of produce grown on the farm. They do also supply locally sourced meat, fish, poultry, cheese and chutneys, and much more. In most cases, farm shops have on-site tea rooms or cafes where they exhibit and serve their produce. While some would deal with crops, others specialize in selling meat with in-shop butchery.

If you’re planning on starting a farm shop business in the United Kingdom, you now have a chance to do so within your local area. In the UK, some farm shops operate from premises adjacent to a working farm.

Typically, farm shops come in all shapes and sizes, with the most sustainable current offering a full-basket shop. That is to mean you can get all ingredients for a good wholesome meal. One of the objectives of farm shops is always supporting local producers. They offer extensive organic food providing customers with a choice.

While others sell farm produce, others will have an organic restaurant serving quality homemade meals. So if you’re a vegetarian, vegan, or those with special dietary requirements, a farm shop will serve you well. You’re getting the guarantee of choosing fresh farm produce that you cannot find anywhere. Therefore, for your business success as a United Kingdom corporate service provider, ensure you meet all the requirements within this type of business.

 

Business Registration Process

Starting a farm shop in the United Kingdom is much easier when you’ve met all the legal requirements. To be successful as a businessman, you must begin with the simple basic steps.

Develop a Business Plan

An intelligent decision comes by coming up with a business plan right before starting your business. This document will act as a ‘road map’ to guide you in your future farm shop business. The components of the business plan should have an impact on daily decisions and provide direction for expansion. You should clearly define your operational, financial, and marketing strategies. The executive summary will set the pace of the real owners of the business and the goals and objectives.

Look for a Suitable Location

Finding the appropriate location for your farm shop business marks the beginning of attracting the right customers. Therefore, you must do a little research on the best place to set up your business in the UK. Some smell of soil and fresh vegetables may bring out the organic image of what your shop would look like. While you may be thinking of having some fresh farm produce, preparing some hot homemade organic food might give you some food for thought.

Secure All the Necessary Licenses and Permits

As you plan on starting a farm shop business in the United Kingdom, securing the necessary permits will make your work more accessible from the start. You can always check with the local authority and the proper environmental and health departments within your area. Try also checking out the government website for the industry’s legislation and guidelines.

Register Your Farm Shop Business

Every business in the UK that deals with foodstuff must be registered according to law. Now, before registering your farm shop business, you must first have a business name. Ensure that the name resonates well with the nature of your business. The Companies House is the authority where you’ll submit all the legal documents during the company registration in the UK. You can register your business as a sole trader, limited partnership, or a limited company in the UK. After registering your business, you must also open a bank account to carry out all your financial transactions.

Research Your Market

Before company incorporation, you must do a preliminary market research analysis to determine your demand and target customers. This market research will give you an overview of the type of farm produce to deal with and the area’s demography. Consider contacting the local restaurants or hotels and find out whether or not they would be interested in your products. Again, knowing your competition is essential. Gather as much information about what they do as a business. You can do this by visiting their premises and making notes of:

• The level of service they provide
• Type of customers they attract
• If they sell organic produce
• Whether they have a homemade food restaurant or not
• The pricing of their farm produce

Promote Your Shop

Creating the first impression right from the start is the key to nailing the first customer. As a beginner, you must ensure you create an enjoyable customer experience instantly. Besides, farm shop customers typically acknowledge personal contact. For you to do that, it begins by promoting your business to your potential customers. Word of mouth is one very effective advertising method that you can start with. Other methods may include press releases, daily newspapers, radio, and magazines. You can even create flyers and business cards and share them with your potential customers.

Develop a Website

Digital marketing is one method that every business now applies to attract customers. And for you to advertise digitally, you must have a website. Having your website will give you an online presence. Therefore, when starting a farm shop business in the United Kingdom, make it a priority. Complete the ‘about’ section with all the information concerning the products you offer. Create as much information on how people can reach you. Again, having your social media platforms where customers can see the products you have and prices is vital.

Pricing Your Products

After you’ve compared your competitor prices, you can now decide on how you can price your products. You can decide whether you’ll have special offers on pick-your-own fruit or not. Consider giving discounts to attract that loyal customer that always buys from you.

 

Licenses, Permits, and Regulations

Before starting a farm shop business in the United Kingdom, you need to understand the legislation. This covers areas such as food safety, licensing, waste, and food labeling.

Do You Need a Farm Shop License?

Just like any other food outlet, you need to register with the local authority environmental health department 28 days before the operation. After that, an officer will visit and inspect your premises to verify that you conform to the required standards.

Building Regulation & Planning Permission

You must have planning permission to start operation, even if you are to use an existing farm building. Again, for any signs on the roadside close to your shop, you must have planning permission.

Additionally, if you’re making alterations to the building to use as a shop, you must also have planning permission. You can always check with the local planning authority or look up the government website for further inquiry.

Food Safety

The laws governing food safety are complex as they have specific regulations. As an entrepreneur, you must maintain high hygiene levels throughout your business. You must ensure that the premises and any equipment used are of the right design and standard.

Food Labeling

If you’re planning pre-packing food for sale in your shop or supply it to another outlet for resale, ensure you label them appropriately. Labeling must include the use by date and ingredients. You can check with the Food Standard Agency and the Trading Standards Business Companion websites for further information.

Organic Produce

Produce meeting the set requirements can only be sold as organic. If you are a supplier of organic produce, you must comply with several regulations and go through an annual inspection. You must register for inspection and certification if you’ll be selling your own organic produce. If you need more advice and help registering your farm shop, Soil Association bodies can be of great assistance.

Food Waste

Proper disposal of food waste is essential, primarily when you’re operating a food business. It should never contaminate the environment and can’t be fed to livestock. Any use of a waste carrier to dispose of your waste must be appropriately authorized. In the UK, you’re permitted to dispose of up to 20kg per week of animal by-products through regular waste disposal. However, if you generate more than that, then you must use an authorized waste carrier.

Check 3E Accounting United Kingdom’s website or contact us for further inquiries or assistance.