Waitrose is to open its first store on a farm this summer in Hampshire featuring locally-sourced products.

Branded ‘The Farm Shop, Leckford Estate’, the 1,800 sq ft shop will open in August and will create 15 jobs in the region.

It is expected to sell more than 1,000 products with a commitment that at least 40% of the range will come from within a 30 mile radius of the shop and 40% from within the region. The region is defined by the regional food group, Taste of the South East.

The estate is working with Taste of the South East and Hampshire Fare to identify as many quality local producers as possible who may be interested in supplying the shop.

The building will also include an educational facility where local school children can learn about food provenance and farming. The store will also feature a coffee shop.

Leckford Estate commercial manager Andrew Lazenby said: “Waitrose is in a very fortunate position to have its own farm - and this will be wonderful opportunity to showcase the wide variety of food produced both here at Leckford and across the region to local shoppers, visitors and our own partners.”

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