As sales of cask ale continue to hold steady, outperforming the total beer market, multi-award winning Keelham Farm Shop is adding an own brand real ale to its already extensive range of more than 100 beers, stocked from 20 local breweries.
Increasingly, Keelham Farm Shop has observed that its beer customers are as likely to be women as men; younger novices as real ale connoisseurs. For the first time from August, a new ‘Something for the Weekend’ Keelham keg will be available, providing a sustainable and affordable way to enjoy the taste of cask ale at home.
Keelham is one of the first UK retail outlets which is not a pub or brewery to have received a local award from the Campaign for Real Ale [CAMRA], in recognition of both the range and quality of the local beers it stocks. Continuing its philosophy of working in close partnership with local producers, Keelham Farm Shop has joined forces with nearby Naylor’s Brewery and selected a blonde bitter as its first Keelham beer.
Known as ‘the beer with no name’ Keelham customers currently have the opportunity to sample the new brew, which is the first in a planned range of Keelham beers, and to suggest a fitting name for it; the winner will win a case of the Keelham beer.
This summer, Keelham customers will have the chance to share cask ale at home, by filling a reusable 4 pint flagon. Every customer will receive a pamphlet on how to look after their beer to maximise its taste, and can return each week to refill their flagon with an ever-changing menu of the region’s best ales. ‘Something for the Weekend’ will feature four brews from Naylor’s in the first month, including its light Aire Valley Bitter and its Summer Sonnet, a crisp pale beer with a bitter kick and mellow hop finish.
Victoria Robertshaw, co-owner of Keelham Farm Shop commented:
“We’re well known as a butchers’ and for stocking products by more than 400 local farmers and producers, but our ever-increasing beer range is almost our best kept secret. We always look to tap in to our customers changing needs and the majority of our customers, in particular the female customers, tell us that they enjoy the light, easy-drinking beers. Beer is such a natural, sustainable drink and we now sell over 900 bottles a week. It really has become a drink for everyone. Our range of Yorkshire beers is constantly evolving and as our Keelham brand products are doing really well in the other areas of the business, it made sense to select our own brand brew.”
“The reusable flagon allows us to meet the demand from our customers in a way that is fun, reasonably priced and, most importantly, good for the environment.”
This partnership with Naylor’s sees many parallels between the two companies; both are independent, family businesses run by siblings – Keelham is co-owned by third generation Robertshaws, James and Victoria, and Naylor’s is run by brothers Stephen and Robert Naylor who began brewing their own brand beers in 2001. Both companies are investing in the expansion of their businesses and have plans to launch e-commerce sites to introduce their products to a wider market by the end of this year.
Adds Victoria: “These new additions to our beer range fit perfectly with our ethos of being sustainable, affordable and supporting local businesses like Naylor’s who are an ambitious and exciting company.”
Keelham Farm Shop, which prides itself on offering something different from big brand supermarkets or high street food retailers, puts supporting local producers and offering fresh, great tasting, affordable food to all it customers at the heart of the business.
For more information visit http://keelhamfarmshop.co.uk
For further information or images please contact Debbie Pett or Anys Williams at Anita Morris Associates on 01943 603311 / Debbie@anitamorrisassociates.
Notes for Editors
Keelham Farm Shop Ltd
Keelham Farm Shop
Brighouse and Denholme Road
Thornton
Bradford BD13 3SS
Tel: 01274 833472
Opening hours:
Mon-Fri 8am-8pm
Sat 8am-7pm
Sun 9am-6pm
The Robertshaw family have been at Keelham Farm for almost 40 years evolving from being purely a sheep farm to include the Farm Shop which is proud of its local roots and has developed many innovations to champion the sustainable production of local, fresh, affordable food. Keelham carried out a £1 million refurbishment of its Thornton shop in 2012 and receiving planning permission for a second site in Skipton in 2013.
Keelham local beer suppliers include:
Acorn Brewery, Barnsley, South Yorkshire
Black Sheep Brewery, Masham, North Yorkshire
Bradfield Brewery, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Copper Dragon Brewery, Skipton, North Yorkshire
Daleside Brewery, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Goose Eye Brewery, West Yorkshire
Great Newsome Brewe, Hull, East Yorkshire
Haworth Steam Brewery, Keighley, West Yorkshire
Ilkley Brewery, Ilkley, West Yorkshire
Little Valley Brewery, Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire
Leeds Brewery, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Mallinsons Brewery, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Naylor’s Brewery, Keighley, West Yorkshire
Nook Brewhouse, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire
Old White Bear Brewery, Keighley, West Yorkshire
Saltaire Brewery, Shipley, West Yorkshire
Samuel Smiths Brewery, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire
Theakstons, Ripon, North Yorkshire
Timothy Taylors Brewery, Keighley, West Yorkshire
Wold Top Brewery, Driffield, North Yorkshire
York Brewery, York, North Yorkshire
The Cask Report, Pete Brown 2012-13 findings:
· Cask ale grew by 1.6% in 2011, holding steady in 2012
· Cask now emphatically outperforming the total beer market, which declined by 3.5%
Naylor’s Brewery
Midland Mills
Station Road
Cross Hills
West Yorkshire, BD20 7DT
Brothers Stephen and Robert Naylor began brewing back in 2001 at The Old White Bear public house they owned in Cross Hills, near Keighley. They soon realised that their passion and future lay solely in brewing and in 2006 they made the decision to concentrate on producing quality, hand-crafted beers. They’ve been in their current home on Midland Mills in Crosshills for over 7 years, during which time they’ve developed many outstanding beers, won numerous awards and seen production increase annually. 2013 has seen major investment with brand new brewing plant to doubling capacity and taking it to over a million pints per year.
Available in casks, bottles or kegs, Naylor’s create beers of quality and distinction – whilst keeping it all in the family, at the peak of perfection.
Awards for Keelham Farm Shop include:
- Dalesman ‘Agricultural Business of the Year Award’ 2013
- Winner Butcher’s Shop of the Year awards 2012 – ‘Farm shop of the Year’
- Yorkshire winner in Countryside Alliance awards 2011 ‘Local food award’
- Winner of Deliciously Yorkshire awards 2012 – ‘Best retailer of local products’
- Winner of Bradford Means Business awards 2011 ‘Retail or hospitality award’
- Winner of Food & Farming awards 2010 ‘National non-multiple Retailer of the Year’
- Finalists in FARMA Awards 2012/2011 – ‘National farm Retailer of the Year’ & ‘Best on farm butchery’
- Finalists in Welcome to Yorkshire White Rose Awards 2012 in the ‘Taste of Yorkshire’ category
- Runner-up in ‘Best Independent Retailer’ category, Observer Food Monthly awards 2012
- Finalists in Butcher’s Shop of the Year awards 2011, 2010, 2009 – ‘Farm shop of the Year’
- Finalists in Deliciously Yorkshire awards 2011 – ‘Best retailer of local produce’
- Finalists in ‘Yorkshire Excellence in Business’ awards 2010, 2009
Keelham has earned a reputation as a committed champion of local farmers and suppliers, delivering a retail proposition built on the source, taste and affordability of its produce; 75% of what Keelham sells is fresh produce, compared with 25% in large supermarkets and stores.
Anys Williams
Anita Morris Associates
Public Relations
www.anitamorrisassociates.co.
t. 01943 603311
f. 01943 601133
27 Little Lane, Ilkley, West Yorkshire, LS29 8HX
Follow me on twitter: @AnysAMA