Farm shop to open and create 80 jobs following investment of nearly £3m
Robertshaw’s Farm Shop will open the doors for the first time to its new Skipton store on Thursday 27 March.
It will end a saga that began towards the end of 2023 with the closure of the former Keelham Farm Shop in Gargrave Road, before the business fell into administration in January 2024, with all staff made redundant.
The 1.65 acre edge-of-town site was later sold for £2.2m to James Robertshaw, of Robertshaw’s Farm Shop in Thornton, Bradford.
He was one of Keelham’s original co-owners, though ceased to have any interest in the business well before it ran into trading difficulties.
Robertshaw’s Farm Shop is a family-run business that has been trading since 1929 and rebranded six years ago.
The company has an on-site butchers and deli, where it makes its own sausages, burgers and pies. It also bought a large offsite bakery to increase production of baked goods.
Ahead of the Skipton launch, development and upgrading work has taken place at the premises. It represents an additional cost of £600,000-plus, bringing total investment to near £3m.
James Robertshaw said: “We are really excited to finally launch the new Skipton store, a ‘one stop’ farm shop set to complement our multi award-winning farm shop in Thornton.
“It’s the start of a brand-new era, an expansion that represents a significant milestone for Robertshaw’s and presents major opportunities for future growth and development of the business.
“The reopening not only provides a tremendous boost to the local economy, but also brings 80 new jobs to the area.”
The new 27,826 sq ft shop is being managed by James’s son Harley, who has learned his trade and risen through the ranks at Thornton.
In common with the original shop, Robertshaw’s Skipton has an on-site butchers and delicatessen offering home-made products, fresh fruit and vegetables, a food-to-go section, dried goods, beers, wines and spirits, a florist, restaurant and café.
