Prince Charles’ farm shop in Gloucestershire has been forced to shut because of the rise of online shopping. The Veg Shed at Close Farm, Shipton Moyne, Tetbury, has closed its doors for the final time after eight years. Customers were told the business would focus on a vegetable box delivery scheme.
But that has been temporarily suspended because of a lack of produce due to a late spring. The Prince is passionate about organic and local produce and the shop represented what he stood for in the countryside. Famous for its wonky, but tasty organic carrots when it was launched, the shop sold locally grown and organic produce, some of which came from the Duchy’s Organic Home Farm.
It moved from Highgrove to Close Farm three years ago at a reported cost of £100,000, as the Duchy Originals range at Waitrose sold well. But that supermarket success doesn’t appear to have rubbed off on HRH’s own shop. Three part-time jobs went when it closed.
“It’s a shame because the products they sold there were superb,” said one customer from Nailsworth, who did not wish to be named.
“It is quite out of the way, which was part of its charm but I guess they just didn’t get the footfall they needed.”
A Clarence House spokeswoman indicated falling footfall and web shopping with supermarkets were part of the reason for closure. “In response to consumer trends and a preference for shopping remotely, the decision has been taken to close the Veg Shed but to continue with the Box Scheme to satisfy the local demand for seasonal organic produce,” she said.
The Veg Shed, which closed on April 27, was between Tetbury and Westonbirt. Rob Keene, of Over Farm Market on the A40, said footfall was crucial for business “You have to be in the right place, where people go past regularly,” said Mr Keene.
Source: SouthWest Business – UK: Prince Charles’ Veg Shop Closes Its Doors
