Work begins on farm shop extension

Canalside Farm, near Stafford, has been growing its own produce for 35 years.

The family-run farm built a new farm shop seven years ago, but they have now decided to extend both the shop and the car park.

The expansion plans will increase the farm shop by a third and include a new bakery and production kitchen, so that the farm can make more of their own products on site.

With this in mind, the owners have already recruited an artisan baker, Karl Bowyer, who has been trying out his recipes in the café kitchen, including classics such as Belgian buns, bread and butter pudding, and Canalside strawberry tarts.

Once the new bakery is complete, Karl will be up early, kneading a wide range of speciality breads, which will be sold in the farm shop and used in their café.

Owner Wendy Barton said: “We are delighted that work has finally started on the farm shop and hope that the expansion will be completed by the end of March. Our aim is to make as much produce as we can here on the farm, so with the new bakery, working in collaboration with our team of qualified butchers, who already make all of their own products, we believe it will improve the quality of both our farm shop and café.”

The owners opened a new café four years ago, and since then, the two businesses have created 40 new jobs and sold more than 100,000 punnets of strawberries, 20,000 home-made sausage rolls and served over 110,000 cups of coffee.

Canalside Farm is located in Great Haywood, just off the A51, between Stone and Rugeley. The farm shop and café are open every day from 9am to 5pm.

For further information call 01889 881747 or log onto the their website canalsidefarm.co.uk