Croots is continuing its pledge to become more environmentally friendly after installing new counter display fridges that will reduce energy use.
Last year the farm shop near Duffield replaced six open display fridges with one open display cabinet fridge and three doored fridges that use the latest technology and are much more environmentally friendly.
Croots received a £12,000 grant covering 40% of the cost of the new fridges under the DE-Carbonise project, which has been created to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Derby and Derbyshire to increase their sustainability and save money by reducing energy costs and carbon emissions.
Now the farm shop has made a further £50,000 investment by replacing the butchery and deli display fridge counters with new, more environmentally friendly units, and has also introduced a new pâtisserie counter.
Over the past few years, Croots has introduced a string of initiatives to reduce its impact on the environment and promote sustainability, including cutting out plastic water bottles and straws, banning plastic carrier bags, reducing the use of clingfilm, increasing its plant-based vegan and vegetarian ranges, and switching the trays in the butchery department to a more recyclable type to reduce landfill waste. Croots has also installed LED lighting in the café, back of house and in the shop.
The sustainability plan was spearheaded by Steve Croot, who ran the farm shop on Wirksworth Road with wife Kay before he sadly passed away in August 2021.
Kay said: “Steve would be so pleased that we are carrying on with our journey of becoming more sustainable and continuing to invest in the shop to provide our customers with the very best experience we can. He was passionate about sustainability and so proud of Croots Farm Shop, which we opened in 2008.
“Over the past few months, we’ve extended the decking outside our café, revamped our children’s play area and refreshed other areas of our farm shop and café. A year after we lost Steve, we’ve continued with the plans he helped put in place and have installed new fridge counter displays for our butchery and deli departments, plus we have added a new pâtisserie display fridge to show off our new range of pâtisserie products. These units use less energy and will help Croots Farm Shop to continue our pledge to become more sustainable and more environmentally friendly.”
Croots Farm Shop, which is based at Farnah House Farm, specialises in supplying local and regional food and drink, as well as offering an ever-expanding range of home-made products. It offers food and drink from almost 50 suppliers who are within a 50-mile radius of the shop – helping to support a wide range of family and local businesses. It also offers an extensive selection of food, drink, cheeses and deli items from further afield, along with gift ideas, wines and spirits.
Croots Farm Shop is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays. The café is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 3.30pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
