Derbyshire farm shop Croots has welcomed its 250,000th customer with a bottle of bubbly and a gift.

Owner Steve Croot marked the occasion by presenting David and Ann Wayne with a picnic hamper and a bottle of sparkling wine as they became the quarter of a millionth customer to go through the tills of the farm shop in Wirksworth Road, near Duffield.

“I am very pleased to congratulate Mr and Mrs Wayne on becoming our 250,000th customer at Croots Farm Shop,” said Steve, who opened the shop in June 2008. “When we realised we were getting close to such a significant figure we started keeping an eye on the numbers on the till roll and were ready when they arrived at the tills.

“It’s been great for Croots to have such a loyal band of customers, and I’d like to thank them all for their support over the last three and a half years.”

Croots Farm Shop & Kitchen, based at Farnah House Farm, now employs 21 staff, and sells products from around 40 suppliers and producers within a 50-mile radius of the shop.

“When we opened Croots, it was always our intention to help support the local economy, as well as creating a place to shop for great-tasting food and drink,” said Steve.

David and Ann, who live in Ambergate, first shopped at Croots shortly after it opened. They had popped in for lunch at Croots Kitchen before buying a few items in the shop, and were very pleased when they discovered the significance of their visit.

“I was bemused at first then pleasantly surprised,” said David.
T
he couple have a number of favourite items at Croots, and especially like the cheese scones.

“We like pretty much everything there from joints of meat to sausages and bacon,” added David

Croots Farm Shop is renowned for its quality sausages and pies, and has won numerous awards. Last year it was a runner-up in the Best UK Independent Food Retailer 2010 category of the Observer Food Monthly Awards. The year before, it was named in The Independent’s top 50 best food shops.

Croots Farm Shop and Kitchen is open Sundays from 10am to 4pm (café until 3.45pm), and from Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm (café until 4.30pm). It is closed on Mondays.

For more information visit www.croots.co.uk

Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk