2018 FARMA/FRA Open Days
Get behind the scenes at some of the UK’s leading Farm Retailers. Open Days include a Farm Shop tour, Q&A with the owners and managers and networking with other farm retailers.
Farm Shop & PYO Open Days 2018
Each Open Day has a theme and includes presentation including from some suppliers who are experts in their field. Lunch is included.
Tuesday 18th September - Fully Booked
Farndon Fields Farm Shop
Making the Most of Christmas
Tuesday 18th September: 09.30am - 4pm
As Christmas approaches this workshop and open day looks at the things you can do now ready for Christmas from advice on stock selection and merchandising displays to in-store events and staff rotas. Plus the importance of starting Christmas planning for next year early with actions you should be taking each month from December onwards including post-Christmas sales, evaluating the winners & losers, budgeting, negotiating with suppliers, placing orders etc.
Lunch is included, a chance for networking, and there will be a tour of Farndon Fields farm shop, who will have just completed a refit and will be in the process of preparing Christmas displays in the conservatory.
The afternoon session will focus on marketing Christmas with advice for in-store promotions and tasting events, communications with loyalty card members, and other ways to add sparkle to your Christmas marketing.
Agenda
09.30am Arrival registration tea/coffee
10.00am Welcome, Introduction to Farndon Fields – our planning and preparations for Christmas – Milly Stokes
10.45am The Christmas planning cycle - Nigel Chandler
12.15pm Tour of farm shop with new layout, & Christmas preparations
1.00pm Lunch & Networking
2.00pm Marketing Christmas - Nigel Chandler
3.15pm Tea/coffee networking
4.00pm Finish
Nigel Chandler
Nigel ran his own independent greengrocers in partnership for 15 years before joining Garsons Farm Shop and the largest PYO in the UK. Whilst at Garsons Nigel oversaw many changes, they were one of the first to introduce olive bars which have now became the norm in farm shops, and stock Panettone which is now sold by nearly all farm shops at Christmas. Nigel was responsible for a team of 35 staff who were given departments and buying responsibility to motivate ownership.
A regular at conferences over the years, Nigel is a great believer in networking in the Industry and has shared his experience of successful lines for seasonal commercial retailing by category and led discussions with an emphasis on correct price points and margin targets.
Nigel is now Sales & Marketing Executive at Hilliards specialist fresh produce wholesaler and distributor.
Venue: Farndon Fields Farm Shop, Leicestershire LE16 9NP
Booking: The Open Day is charged at £45pp + VAT for members, and include lunch & refreshments. Non-members are able to attend £100pp + VAT , please contact the FARMA office. Members only can book online by credit card using the link below. Please note spaces are limited book early to avoid disappointment.
Sorry the Farndon Fields Open Day is now Fully Booked
Wednesday 19th September - Fully Booked
PYO event organised jointly with AHDB Horticulture
Growing media developments in soft fruit propagation
Wednesday 19th September: 09.30am - 4pm
This event is organised in association with AHDB Horticulture. It will be staged at EU Plants, a soft fruit plant propagator specialising in the production of raspberry, blackberry and strawberry plants. A tour of the farm will give delegates an insight into plant propagation, as well as the opportunity to discuss new technologies and developments in the industry.
Delegates will be updated on the research currently underway into the development of responsibly sourced growing media for use in soft fruit propagation. Although the industry has generally moved away from production in peat, it is still heavily reliant on a single material, coir. The trials have evaluated the performance of new growing media blends during the propagation phase and the subsequent establishment of such plants.
The event will also present new information on the optimisation of integrated pest management of cane fruit pests and diseases, specifically the work carried out on Phytophthora rubi, and the use of alternative methods to reduce the level of root rot in raspberries.
Agenda
09:30 Coffee, tea and registration at The Golden Pot, RG27 0NB
10:00 Welcome and introduction - Steve Gallimore, FARMA/FRA
10:05 AHDB project CP 138: Transition to Responsibly Sourced Growing Media in UK Horticulture. Overview of project and update on soft fruit trials - Chloe Whiteside, ADAS
10:35 AHDB project SF 158: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of Cane Fruit Pests and Diseases.Overview of project and update on Phytophthora rubi root rot trials - Ruth D’Urban Jackson, ADAS
11:00 Coffee and tea break
11:15 Travel to field to view raspberry growing media trial and farm walk (travel instructions to be provided) - Chloe Whiteside and Janet Allen, ADAS, Slavey Slavchev, EU Plants
13:00 Lunch at The Golden Pot, then drive to Manor Farm main site, RG40 3TS
14:00 View of strawberry growing media trial and farm walk - Chloe Whiteside and Janet Allen, ADAS, Slavey Slavchev, EU Plants
16:00 Close and depart
Venue: The Golden Pot, Reading Rd, Eversley, Hampshire RG27 0NB and EU Plants Ltd, Manor Farm, Jubilee Road, Finchampstead, Berkshire, RG40 3TS.
Booking: This event is organised in association with AHDB Horticulture and thanks to their support is free for FARMA/FRA members. However places are limited and must be booked in advance. Lunch & refreshments will be provided. Members can book online, non-members please contact the FARMA/FRA office.
SORRY THE PYO EVENT IS NOW FULLY BOOKED