When deciding on food retail outlets you may wish to sell your produce via a cafe, market, shop or restaurant. These resources will give you a helping hand to get started.
Adding value
Local food links: the first 10 years (pdf download 1.2MB)
A case study on how to add value to local produce through catering.
Farmers’ markets
Building successful farmers’ markets (pdf download 3.1MB)
A guide for market organisers.
Funding for farmers’ markets (pdf download)
Funding tips for farmers markets.
Stalls that sell more (pdf download 1.2MB)
A workbook for producers.
Running a cafe
Plunkett Foundation have produced these useful guides to support community cafes:
Promoting your cafe (pdf download)
A fact sheet showing some simple things you can do to attract new customers and keep them coming back.
Getting the food right (pdf download 1.5MB)
This fact sheet looks at your menu and the ingredients you use.
Money matters (pdf download)
Managing and planning finances, taking into account some of the particular challenges faced by community cafés.
Your people (pdf download)
Leading and managing the people involved in your community café. Some simple things you can do to build a strong team and motivate everyone.
Selling via food retail outlets
Sales techniques (pdf download)
An introduction to selling into retail outlets.
Setting up a shop
Designing a store that works (pdf download 3.8MB)
The fundamentals of creating an optimum store layout to help you maximise sales and create an environment that encourages customers to return.
How to open a local food shop (pdf download)
Demonstrates how a range of different people set up their food retail businesses. Highlights some of the lessons that can be learned from their experiences.
How to set up a community shop (pdf download 6.6MB)
A Plunkett Foundation e-book showing how you can set up or save a shop in community ownership.
Local food consultation questionnaire (pdf download)
A sample local food questionnaire template for use with your own community
Local food guide (pdf download 1.2MB)
A practical guide for retailers who want to stock and sell more locally produced food and drinks.
Siting your shop (pdf download)
A useful checklist to help you choose a suitable site for your shop.
Terms of employment (pdf download)
An example employment contract for a shop or post office assistant