On 29 August a group of UK farmers will take over a former retail site in Banbury to open up a new food retail outlet called Happerley England, which will create approximately 60 new full- and part-time jobs in the hope of driving ‘a radical change in how food and drink is retailed and served’.
The Banbury scheme is the brainchild of Happerley, an organization which uses technology to educate consumers about the journey of their food and drink, and which strives to create transparent ingredient supply chains.
The project is supported by BBC Countryfile presenter Adam Henson and is said to ‘mark the launch of England’s very first national centre of food and drink provenance in an interactive mixed retail, street food and entertainment environment’.
The site will include a deli, farm shop, baker, cheese counter, butcher and fishmonger, as well as a restaurant, bar, off license and three takeaways.
We hope to blaze a new future for retail by re-engaging town centres with their hinterland and delivering truth instead of spin
Using their smartphones, consumers will access QR code technology to ‘better understand the journey of the food they buy’.
All produce at Happerley England must be certified Happerley Gold – or demonstrate that it is on track to achieve Happerley Gold status – meaning that the public can trace the ingredients of their purchases ‘right back to the farms and boats, allowing producers to tell the story of the very journey of their products’.
This is about delivering transparency and truth for the benefit of all. It about telling the story of field to fork
Happerley founder Matthew Rymer comments: “We hope to blaze a new future for retail by re-engaging town centres with their hinterland and delivering truth instead of spin.
“It is not rocket science – this is about delivering transparency and truth for the benefit of all. It about telling the story of field to fork, creating community space, a platform for genuine interaction and a sustainable business model for all.
“We want to lay a path for hope through these difficult times and to focus on the glory of what we as a nation produce. We very much hope to set up a Happerley Scotland and Happerley Wales in due course.”
