At the FARM + MORE trade show (Wed, 27 January):

Centre Stage starting at 10.30 runs to 16.30 with great talks across an interesting range of topics for farm retailers, attractions, and those seeking inspiration in farm diversification.

 

10.30 Making Maize Mazes
Speaker: Angus Mewse, Mazescape
A well-planned maize maze can still draw the crowds in summer, maximising on the space available to you and adding value to your consumer offering. Angus Maize traces the history and potential of maize mazes, and the crucial points to consider when planning one.

11.00 Mystery Shopping for more Profit
Speaker: Jonathan Winchester
Come and hear how hundreds of independent food retailers across the UK are using mystery shopping to improve their profitability. It’s a must for growing farm bases businesses.

11.45 Truffle cultivation and how you can get involved
...a high yielding crop with the benefit of grant support
Speaker: Dr Paul Thomas, MD, Mycorrhizal Systems
Mycorrhizal Systems Ltd are world leaders in truffle cultivation technology and have a Partnership approach for those interested in growing truffles. Summer truffles are native to the UK and can be grown in a wide variety of places across the country. Plantations can produce truffles for a long period of time and offer excellent returns per acre. Grant support is also available and we’ll be outlining how to grow truffles, receive grant support and attain outstanding reliable returns.

12.30 ‘Old but wise words in challenging times’
Speaker: Jeremy Bowen, Paxton and Whitfield
Jeremy Bowen, Trade and Corporate Sales Manager of Paxton & Whitfield, reminds us that a successful artisan food business can only survive ‘if you look after the pennies because then pounds will look after themselves’.

13.45 Smoking, curing and sausage making
Speaker: Danny Upson, Dalziel
Smoking, curing and sausage making are linchpins of today’s butchery counter. This workshop looks at the latest trends and varieties of sausages on offer and how to make the perfect sausage, plus the golden rules behind making the best bacon every time.

14.30 ‘Protecting Your Assets in a Retail Environment’
Speaker: Pete Thomas, Lodge Service (UK) Ltd
Pete Thomas heads up the Retail Services Division of Lodge Service (UK) Ltd, having spent over 30 years in a variety of law enforcement and retail loss prevention roles. Pete discusses the current extent of retail loss and provides insight into simple ways of protecting your assets and minimising business shrink’

15.00 Designed for Success
Speaker: Clark Watson, MD at Watco
Whether you’re new to farm retailing, thinking of expanding redeveloping your current layout, Clark takes you through the process, from individual design considerations to budgets and timeframes, ensuring your shop works hard to make you money.

15.40 Making gorgeous hampers
Speaker: Arona Khan, The Winebox company
International gift wrapping and merchandising consultant, Arona Khan leads this hands-on demonstration showing quick and easy cost-saving techniques will help small businesses and established retailers to maximise sales margins, by increasing the perceived value of your hampers and gift baskets. Visit www.thewbc.co.uk where you can read our monthly hamper feature ‘Arona Suggests’. Here you’ll be able to browse and buy the hamper and gift basket making products used in this demonstration.

16.15 Concessions in farm shops: Mantinga
Speaker: Steve Mackintosh
Steve Mackintosh discusses how concession bakeries could work for you to complement homemade and local products. He will be using case studies within the sector to show how the addition of carefully selected products can add to your customer numbers and margins.