The Crieff Food Company 2021 round-up

2021 was a biggie for the Crieff Food Company team and as we look forward to a new year, here’s a very quick round-up of the year that was. And what a year it was!

 

FEBRUARY 2021 AT THE CRIEFF FOOD COMPANY: SCOTLAND REGIONAL FARM SHOP & DELI AWARDS SHORT LIST

 

We were incredibly humbled back in February 2021 to be shortlisted for the Scotland Regional gong at the Farm Shop and Deli Awards. We were still on a high from our trio of success in 2020!

 

MARCH 2021 AT THE CRIEFF FOOD COMPANY: UNPACKAGEDAT – ZERO WASTE REFILL STATION ARRIVED

 

March was all about the arrival of a new zero waste refill station provided by UnpackagedAt.  Our new refill station marked a giant leap in our bid to reduce plastic at The Crieff Food Company.

It’s still going strong, and with pasta, beans, pulses and cereals available, all you have to do is bring along your containers or jars. We also have Glen Lyon Coffee available to refill  – a product local to Crieff. As far as we know, this was the first time Glen Lyon coffee was available in a zero-waste capacity! Another of our 2021 highlights!

 

APRIL 2021 AT THE CRIEFF FOOD COMPANY: CAFE & GIFT HALL OFFICIALLY REOPENED!

 

The Crieff Food Company café and gift hall reopened at long last back in April In line with government guidance. We also served alcohol on our outdoor veranda thanks to a lovely list of white, red, fizz, and beers for all our equally lovely customers – perfect for sunny afternoons back then! We updated our menus too.

 

 

JULY 2021 AT THE CRIEFF FOOD COMPANY: OUR PLASTIC-FREE JOURNEY CONTINUED

 

Our plastic-free journey accelerated in July. We were already flying the flag for local and we had been for quite some time by this point by championing our brilliant local producers and showcasing the best that Perthshire and Scotland has to offer.

 

This was when we took the UnpackagedAt ethos (where you can bring your own jars and containers and refill them with all of your essential dry goods) and rolled it out across the store. This was the month we began encouraging you to bring in your empty tupperware to the deli counter and butchery for us to refill rather than wrap your goods.

On top of this, we also eradicated plastic in our cold drinks section. Still and sparkling water were from here on in found in cans – it tastes just as good and doesn’t harm our planet. A win-win!

 

July was also the month we were delighted to walk away ‘Commended Scottish Retailer’ at the 2021 Farm Shop & Deli Awards, renowned for supporting and celebrating local specialist retailers. They cover 12 categories and nine regions across the UK.

From the bottom of our hearts, we’d like to say a huge thank you once again to our lovely customers, our incredible suppliers and of course our hard-working and talented team here at The Crieff Food Co.

 

OCTOBER 2021 AT THE CRIEFF FOOD COMPANY: OUR BUTCHERY WAS BACK

 

Our butchery counter returned in October 2021! That was the month we were over the moon to welcome Colin Nicoll, award-winning traditional butcher, to The Crieff Food Company. Master butcher Colin has a wealth of experience and currently has two other shops in Perth and Bannockburn. What a fabulous addition to the shop Colin has been! He has also had shops in Alyth, Ladybank and Edinburgh.

 

Sustainability remained close to our heart in the autumn so we began using only using paper and jute bags.

 

Moons Green Charcuterie arrived in October 2021 too. Founded by British Charcuterie pioneers John Doig and Ian Jones, this is the team that inspired many local classics from the young British charcuterie movement – including their now-ubiquitous and utterly delicious Beer Sticks

 

October’s Local Artisan Hero was Paul Newman, owner of Errichel House and Thyme Restaurant, that’s just up the road on the outskirts of Aberfeldy. Paul lived and worked in South Africa for several years and it was this experience that spurred him on to produce his own Biltong. It’s similar to jerky, but it is cured/marinated before the drying process to impart a greater depth of flavour and we stock Buffalo Biltong, and Buffalo Chilli Biltong made using meat from The Buffalo Farm in Fife.