Business booms as Sheffield greengrocers nominated for national award

Barra Organics on Sharrow Vale Road has been nominated for a Soil Association award for excellence.

The 100 per cent organic grocers was nominated for the Rising Star award for the best new business.

The shop used to be in the Moor Market but switched to Sharrow Vale Road when premises became available.

Moya Sketchley, from Barra Organics, said: “We are just a small, family-run business so for one of our customers to nominate us for this award is amazing.”

The Soil Association’s BOOM – Best of Organic Marketing – Awards are now in their 30th year and celebrate businesses and producers working to improve food production across the country.

Moya said the store tries its best to support producers and businesses in the local community.

“We run workshops with chefs and growers from around Sheffield, which has helped us to build a community of organic producers,” said Moya.

Barra Organics moved from a unit in the Moor Market to Sharrow Vale last year and has not looked back since the relocation.

Moya said: “We were in the Moor Market for a year, we gave it a good go but when this shop became available we knew it was time to move.

“Since we moved out of the market, our customer base has grown and we’re so pleased one of them nominated us for this award.”

The Rising Star Award hopes to find the organic stars of tomorrow and Moya said everyone at Barra Organics is delighted to be nominated.

The Soil Association BOOM Awards are still accepting nominations for Rising Star, best food blog and innovation.

n Members of the public can submit nominations before Friday, February 26 at www.soilassociation.org/awards/boomawards