Independent, family-run Foxholes Farm Shop based in Hertford, has beaten off stiff competition to win this year’s FSB Herts “Service Excellence”, “East Herts Business of the Year” and “Business Person of the Year: Catherine Smith” awards. Out of 17 awards presented, Foxholes was the only business who achieved a hat-trick.
Foxholes Farm Shop won the prestigious titles at the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Herts Business Awards 2015 last Thursday at a gala ceremony at the Manor of Groves Hotel attended by hundreds of award finalists, judges, sponsors and local media. These awards are designed to recognise the achievements and accomplishments of businesses based throughout Hertfordshire.
Not 1, not 2 but 3 Winner’s Trophies at the 2015 FSB Herts Business Awards. Photo above: Helena Leake and Catherine Smith (Foxholes, Managing Partner). Photo below: Catherine Smith receives her Business Person of the Year Award from Claire Austin, MD of Austins Funeral Directors.
Speaking after the event Catherine Smith said: “We are overjoyed to have won “Service Excellence” and “East Herts Business of the Year” and I was personally very honoured to win “Business Person of the Year”. These awards are dedicated to our team of passionate staff who deliver outstanding customer service seven days a week at Foxholes’ year in and out. We have expanded and embraced new technologies over the past eight years to reflect what our loyal customers want, as we continue to strive for the very highest levels of customer satisfaction in not only our industry but in our local community. We are honoured to have won such distinguished awards.”
Supporting comments on Foxholes ‘Service Excellence’ award win from Paul Saunders, Regional Director of Shopper Anonymous (Hertfordshire) were: “Congratulations to Catherine and all the team at Foxholes! Foxholes have invested in our services since Feb 2011 and have shown a real commitment in putting the customer at the heart of everything they do. We are specialists within the Farm Shop sector and Foxholes regularly achieves industry leading results despite changes to staff and the additional of new business ventures such as the recently opened Tea Room. This demonstrates that there is an ingrained service culture within the business.”
NFU Mutual’s Leonie King wrote in support of Foxholes Farm’s award applications. “Around 50% of farms in the UK supplement traditional incomes through farm diversification. Foxholes Farm and its Farm Shop enterprise is a superb example of that combination. Diversification is not easy and requires skill, passion and dedication – and Foxholes has developed enormously from the early idea of selling beef from the kitchen door to a thriving example of rural enterprise in the heart of a working farm – an inviting farm shop full of a variety of food, homemade pies, cheese produced on the farm, a Master Butcher, a pet area, play area and now a cosy tea shop to add to the list. All credit to Catherine and the whole family.”
In its 8th year, local is Foxholes Farm Shop’s passion, producing and selling fresh, flavoursome and ethical farm produce, reducing food miles and supporting other local farms and our community. It employs 25 staff who are equally as passionate and dedicated to offering excellent customer service.
