Paul Hargreaves and Paul Castle outside Foodhall

Cotswold Fayre CEO Paul Hargreaves (left) and Flourish MD Paul Castle

Speciality food wholesaler Cotswold Fayre has launched a foodhall and restaurant in Somerset.

The Flourish Foodhall & Kitchen was today (24 June) officially opened by Cotswold Fayre CEO Paul Hargreaves and Flourish MD Paul Castle.

Located on Glenavon Farm in Saltford, Flourish comprises a 2,000 sq ft foodhall, an open kitchen seating 110 people, and an outside terrace with 40 seats.

Hargreaves and Castle, who previously worked for businesses including Asda and Farrington’s Farm Shop, partnered with Glenavon Farm owner Adam Stratton to develop the “positive-impact, planet-friendly” operation.

Redundant dairy buildings have been transformed to house the foodhall, and the business plans to develop wildflower meadows, beehives and a kitchen garden.

“We believe the expansion into retail will enable us to become a better wholesaler to this sector, as we learn more about the intricacies of running the business and gain valuable consumer insight about product preferences and shopping habits,” said Hargreaves.

The business’s B Corp status had helped it attract staff and local suppliers, he added. “Right from the start, we set out to be a food retailer and kitchen with a conscience, putting people and planet at the forefront of everything we do.”