Graze and Buy is Metfield Stores’ annual celebration of local produce, offering you the chance to sell and connect not only with the good people of Metfield and the environs but also with local restaurants and businesses.

Last year was a tough trading year for us, like many small businesses, but here we are with our heads still above water and determined to continue. We know how important our community-run village shop is to our village, so we are holding this year’s Graze and Buy in the garden of Metfield Stores and hoping for bumper sales on the day. This will also allow us to cook our own food (locally sourced, of course).

Please let us know if you would like to participate at the event – as soon as possible, or if you would like to send us samples of your product for the Metfield Stores tasting table and for sale in the shop.

This ‘try before you buy’ table has proved popular with visitors to the fiesta and given the stock buyers at MS some good positive feedback about what to stock in the shop in future. If you decide to work with us in this way, your name will appear on the Graze and Buy web pages and on any publicity material that has not already gone out.

As usual we will be energetically publicising the event to local newspapers along with distributing 3,000 flyers. As we’re doing all this advertising for you, we invite you to supply some stock for the shop on a sale or return basis. Local Metfield volunteers will offer tastings on your behalf, directing people to the Stores to buy your product. This arrangement was very successful last year.

If you do participate here are a few practical points:

• Set-up will be from 8.30am. Gates open 10am. Clearing up 3pm onwards.

• Car parking will be available close by, but not on site.

• We’ll have a marquee, but if you have a gazebo, please bring one.

• If you haven’t got your own table we can organise one from the Village Hall. Please let us know when booking.

• As we are doing all this advertising for you, we will ask for a contribution from you, payable on the day.

click to enlarge poster