New farm shop manager leads with experience

A sustainable food business has appointed a manager with over 36 years’ butchery experience to lead its farm shop, following a relaunch across its whole site.

Retail outlet Roaming Roosters, which boasts a popular farm shop, petting farm and bistro, welcomes Mark Kelly to its Higham-based farm shop.

“Mark has a wealth of experience in the butchery and retail industry; his skills and knowledge will be a great asset to the team and we’re confident he will help to drive the business forward,” said Simon Mellin, co-owner at Roaming Roosters.

“We have lots of exciting plans in place for the farm shop, including a new layout and plenty of new, seasonal product ranges; Mark’s role will be instrumental in implementing these changes.”

Mark started his career as an apprentice at Tesco in the 1970s. He then worked in various butcher’s shops across the Burnley and Pendle area before running his own shop in the Nelson Arndale Centre for 15 years, building this from nothing and turning it into a thriving and successful business.

Following this, Mark worked at Anderton’s Butchers at its shops in Longridge and then Clitheroe; working here for four years to create a busy butchers shop in the heart of Clitheroe.

In addition, Mark has also worked at an abattoir, so is knowledgeable in all aspects of the meat trimming and boning process.

Mark said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the Roosters team, I’ve known the Mellin family for years, working in the same vicinity as Simon and Nick’s dad Geoff, when he had the butchers shop in Nelson.

“I’m really looking forward to this new chapter in my career, drawing on my previous experience to deliver fresh ideas and a few tips and tricks along the way!”

New products have been introduced in the farm shop, including sausage and chicken kebabs which are great for BBQ season. Mark hopes to double the trade in the next 12 months, build a strong and motivated team, introduce different lines such as continental meats, and, of course, continue to build upon the fantastic reputation already in place at Roaming Roosters.