Successful Christmas Sales For The Shops At Dartington

In line with leading national retailers, The Shops at Dartington experienced strong growth during the festive period with a four per cent sales increase across its shops in December compared with 2015 figures. Many retailers have reported growth in their non-food and drink divisions, however, The Shops at Dartington is delighted to announce noticeable growth across all their shops, particularly 'The Food Shop' and 'Devon Drinks'.  Their 15 per cent sales increase during December across both shops and during their annual Christmas Fair reflects the growing trend for buying local and supporting artisan food and drink producers.

Proud to showcase the finest of Devon's food and drink produce, The Shops at Dartington saw bespoke 'create your own' hampers and their premium own brand line of preserves, fudge, chocolate, cakes, beer and ciders prove to be extremely popular.  In addition, local food and drink stars such as the newly launched Salcombe Gin and Wicked Wolf gins, ever popular Luscombe soft drinks, Devon cheeses and locally made Christmas cakes and puddings were amongst some of their biggest sellers ahead of Christmas.

Commenting on the success of this year's Christmas trading, managing director of The Shops at Dartington, Barbara King, says: “As a strong advocate of supporting producers from Devon and the wider Westcountry we are delighted to be able to announce these growth figures in our two food and drink shops.  It was, however, not just this category where we experienced encouraging sales.  We also saw a large increase in the levels of gifts purchased for 'the home' such as furnishings and fashion accessories including bags, gloves and scarfs.”

Barbara continues: “Each year the weekend before Christmas we host our annual Christmas Fair.  This year we tried something very different with a pop-up Devon food and drink marquee with over 20 producers as well as our '12 Deer' of Christmas campaign.  Helped by clear, crisp winter weather the weekend was a huge success and many of our shops experienced their highest sales of the year over the two days.”

A group of 14 shops and cafes, located in a beautiful rural setting in a range of what were once farm buildings, The Shops at Dartington is owned by the Dartington Hall Trust an independent charitable organisation, trading ethically and sustainably as a social enterprise in order to help support the Trust's activities in social justice, sustainability and the arts.

With a unique selection of shops to explore, hours can be spent looking at the exquisite craft and pottery collections, stylish women's and men's accessories, homeware, unusual gifts and furnishings as well as 'The Food Shop' which stocks 60 per cent of produce from Devon and 87 per cent from the Westcountry and 'Devon Drinks' which specialises in alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks from the county.  There's also two on-site cafés, The Venus Company and new to The Shops, Bayards Kitchen, which both serve delicious, fresh locally sourced dishes.

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