A couple who were forced to diversify into the baked goods market from farming will open their first shop tomorrow.
After a few difficult years dairy farming, Linda Young and Peter Read set up The Wissage Bakehouse selling artisan food on a wholesale basis to shops and pubs around Staffordshire and into Telford.
Now members of the public will be able to buy their award-winning savouries such as sausage rolls, pork pies and scotch eggs direct from them at Little Aston Farm, in Aston by Doxey, near Stafford.
The farm shop will also become home to Mark LeMoine Butchers, which is moving from Stafford Indoor Market and will provide a full butchery counter.
Plans for the future include the addition of takeaway coffees, more product lines and Wissage’s own range of ready meals.
Two part-time job opportunities will also be created in the coming weeks.
“The farm shop is based in what was the milking parlour when we had our animals,” said Director Linda.
“A few years ago, we found ourselves in a position where we had to diversify in order to go forward and the buildings were what was left, so we decided to make good use of them.
“We’ve made a big investment to get to where we are today and are so pleased to now be able to open our own shop.”
She added: “Our focus is on high-end, rather than mass-produced products.
“Our sausage rolls always fly off the shelves at our stockists so we’re excited to see what happens at the farm shop.”
The wholesale side of the business providing fresh, baked to order goods will continue as normal.
Their traditional pork pie, steak and Slater’s ale pie and pork and chicken pie have all picked up awards.
The farm shop opens tomorrow, Wednesday 22 February, at 8am with the first 50 customers being entered into a draw to win a Wissage produce gift basket. Opening hours will be Wednesday to Saturday 8am to 4.30pm.
