Croots Farm Shop helps put Great British family businesses on the map

Croots Farm Shop helps put Great British family businesses on the map

Derbyshire farm shop Croots is hosting a visit from the Family Business Road Trip 2017.

On April 24th, Family Business United begins its annual tour of some of the UK’s most successful family businesses with the launch of The Family Business Road Trip 2017 in the South West – with plans to visit Croots Farm Shop the following month.

The Family Business Road Trip is an innovative event that celebrates the essential contribution family firms make to national GDP and regional economies, and, as a family firm, Croots is delighted to be taking part in the event this year.

In the UK, the family business sector accounts for more than 4 million firms, £1.1 trillion in turnover (almost a quarter of UK GDP) and employs more than nine million people. In addition, the top 20 family owned firms in the UK generate turnover in excess of £49 billion.

Family firm Sturgess Jaguar is providing the car for the trip and the event is being sponsored by PwC, Farrer & Co, Western Pension Solutions and Close Brothers Asset Management. The Family Business Road Trip 2017 runs for six weeks covering Yorkshire to the Lake District and the Midlands to London, East Anglia, Sussex and a whole host of counties in between.

It will be popping into Croots Farm Shop at Farnah House Farm, Wirksworth Road, near Duffield, on Monday May 15th.

Steve Croot, who runs the farm shop with wife Kay, said: “Croots Farm Shop is very much a family affair, based on the farm run by Kay’s parents and the place where she grew up. Our staff are part of that extended family, and we’ve even got my sister Val involved, as after her appearance on the Great British Bake Off TV programme last year, she’s launched a range of bakes at our farm shop here in Derbyshire.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming the Family Business Road Trip 2017 during May. It’s great that they recognise the value that family businesses bring to the economy.”

Over the six weeks, the tour will meet with families behind some of the UK’s most noteworthy businesses, including Wyke Farms, Thatchers Cider, Cotteswold Dairy, Heck Foods, Troy Foods, Arighi Bianchi and Hypnos Beds.

Penny Lovell, head of private client services at Close Brothers Asset Management, said: “Family businesses are a key driver of the economy and we look forward to meeting some of the UK’s most successful firms.”

Sian Steele, head of family business at PwC in the UK, added: “Events such as this enable us to see first-hand the real diversity of the family business sector and the great contribution they make to the local, national and international economy.”

Richard Lane, head of family business at Farrer & Co, added: “It is a real pleasure to meet family business owners in their own environments, to see the passion they have for what they do, and in many cases, have been doing for generations. It reinforces our understanding of the sector and is a real insight into the family business world.”

Paul Andrews, Founder and managing director of Family Business United, concluded: “Family firms are the very backbone of the UK economy, and we are excited to be meeting with some of the best known family businesses in the UK, as well as some lesser-known hidden gems. We want to celebrate the businesses that do so much for the country, by helping them to link up and share the knowledge and experience of other family businesses, as well as having access to advice from who are committed to helping family businesses shine. The Family Business Road Trip is a great way for us to champion the sector and to help put some great British family businesses on the map.”

More details are at www.familybusinessunited.com

All of the visits will be covered with pictures and quotes throughout the trip on social media. The Family Business Road Trip 2017 can be followed on twitter by using #FBRoadtrip2017.

Paul concluded: "This is the fourth year that we are undertaking the trip around the UK and we are undoubtedly going to meet some great businesses, some inspirational family business and their leaders and we are really looking forward to putting the family business sector on the map.”

Croots Farm Shop is open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm (Shires Eatery until 4.30pm) and from 10am to 4pm on Sundays. Croots runs Fresh Fish Thursdays between 9am and 1pm on Thursdays.

For more information, visit www.croots.co.uk Find Croots on Twitter @crootsfarm_shop or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Croots-Farm-Shop-127012538821/

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