Widmer Feeds Ltd, a much-loved pet store and farm park in Lacey Green, Buckinghamshire has opened a new community café, with the help of a capital grant supported by Buckinghamshire Business First (BBF).
The café, which will enhance the visitor experience and support rural job creation, is part of a longer-term plan by the business to widen its offer and attract more visitors.
The new hospitality development was awarded a Bucks Rural Business Grant of £18,103.29, funded through the UK government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF). Since its launch in 2022, the grant scheme has supported the growth plans of 30 businesses in the county, leveraging £6.5m in private sector investment at a multiple of x3.6 the initial public sector outlay. Funding on this occasion was used to part-finance the installation of café equipment, flooring, ceiling, windows, and furniture, all sourced from reputable local suppliers.
Widmer Feeds was established in 1988 as an outgrowth of a more traditional family-run farm. Having built a successful equestrian centre on part of the site, the business then opened a pet store selling equine and pet supplies - everything from guinea pigs to horse bedding, covering both farming and domestic needs. A petting zoo followed more recently attracting 11,000 visitors in its first year. The combination of petting zoo-pet store-equestrian centre has turned Widmer Feeds into something of a cornerstone of the local community, and the new café aims to diversify the offer further, creating a welcoming space for both retail and farm park visitors.
Will Dallimore, Rural Business Development Manager at Buckinghamshire Business First is clear why this is a project worth backing. “Supporting projects which involve the supply of food and drink often brings a number of benefits to the local economy. They support numerous businesses within the supply chain and create both direct and indirect jobs. But it’s about more than just the numbers. Ventures like this typically serve a social purpose, acting as a community hub generating a sense of local pride and helping to combat the impact of rural isolation. So, it’s great to support this project and to continue to see the business grow.”
In terms of job creation, the project has already created 3.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs, including positions for a café manager and assistants, helping to strengthen local employment opportunities for local residents. On the supply-side, the café sources its food and drink products from local suppliers, helping to strengthen the local supply chain and foster a more resilient rural economy, while creating a new platform to promote unique regional produce. This comes with the added benefit of reducing the need for long distance transportation of edible consumables, helping to lower the café’s carbon footprint.
For the customers and those who live nearby, there are clear benefits too. The café will enhance the visitor experience providing a comfortable and inviting space for visitors to relax and enjoy longer stays, which is likely to encourage more repeat custom. Widmer Feeds are proposing to use the venue to offer more local education opportunities, hosting workshops and events to educate visitors about local agriculture, sustainable practices, and the importance of supporting local businesses. There is even the potential to use the space to host local exhibitions, performances or meetings to enrich the cultural fabric, including collaborations with schools.
Becoming something of a community hub, the café has the potential to serve as a social gathering place, fostering more connections and collaborations between local residents and organisations. Finally, the venue has been designed with social inclusion in mind, offering a warm welcome to all members of the community.
The Bucks Rural Grant programme has now closed. However, there are still many ways for Ngage Solutions to help your business grow.
For information and support for rural businesses, contact our Rural Business Advisers on 01494 927167 or book a chat here.
