A FOOD specialist has been named best in Wales in a UK-wide competition.

The Rhug Farm Shop in Corwen has won the Wales retailer of the year prize at the fifth annual Farm Shop and Deli Awards, held at the NEC in Birmingham.

Receiving the award at the ceremony on Monday this week were Rhug Farm Shop employees: farm shop manager Graham Webster, assistant farm shop manager Amy Coleman, senior farm shop supervisor Charlotte Davies and deli counter assistant Gemma McCook.

Mr Webster said: “We are thrilled to have won this Award at the Farm Shop and Deli Show.

“This award is recognition of all the hard work and dedication of the entire team at Rhug Estate farm shop.”

The Farm Shop and Deli Awards, now in their fifth year, commend retailers’ success in specialist and regional categories, with 13 accolades up for grabs.

The Rhug organic farming enterprise extends to two farms and has grown over the past 20 years to nearly 8,000 acres, with a focus on rearing livestock with a sustainable and organic practices.

Lord Newborough, lord of the Rhug manor, said: “I am delighted for the team in the farm shop. Congratulations to everyone on winning this fabulous award. Whether it is in the farm shop, in the bistro, the take away, the wholesale team or on the farm, we all pride ourselves on our passion for organic farming and our customer service. I’m very proud of my team as it is always striving to do better and that is how it should be.”

The award adds to a successful start to the spring for the farm shop.

It has already received a Royal Warrant of Appointment to the Prince of Wales for its organic Welsh lamb, bison, chicken and turkey.

This will see the farm supply meat to Prince Charles and it will be entitled to display his Three Feathers heraldic badge on the meat it produces for customers.

The estate has also had a particularly busy week, being featured on BBC One’s Countryfile on Sunday, with Adam Henson being shown working in the lambing shed and with the herd of bison.

The following evening, S4C’s Ffermio reported on the estate’s decision to introduce Japanese sika deer, a story that was also covered by BBC TV Wales Today crews.