A BLOOMING marvellous new service is being offered by a garden centre bringing a new catering service right to your front door.
Customers have flocked in increasing numbers to the Food Hall at Poplar Nurseries in Marks Tey. The quality of produce and service is reaping rewards as the Food Hall has added a new string to its bow by providing outside catering for parties and receptions – delivering fabulous flavours for all types of celebrations and perfect for Christmas.
As the new venture expands, the founding principles of Poplar Nurseries’ first farm shop have been maintained as the catering service still offers old-fashioned values of excellent service and top-quality food.
Paul Gooding, 39, who is the Catering Manager at Poplar Nurseries, said: “The farm shop opened in 2010 and just blossomed. It went from strength to strength and outgrew its site and from there, the Food Hall opened in 2021 in the middle of the Covid pandemic and is built on the success of the farm shop which was started by Mandy Cowan. It is three times the size of the original shop, but the same principles still exist.”
He added: “Mandy has always had a passion for cooking and through her background of travelling around Europe had a vision of opening a deli that oozes charm and the foundations of simple home cooked food.”
Mr Gooding has a background in catering having worked in gastro pubs, restaurants and wedding venues. He now uses his experience in the garden centre’s popular restaurant and is also driving the new outside catering project. He says using top quality produce from local suppliers means not only is the business sustainable with a low carbon footprint, but it also supports other local businesses.
The delicious goodies on sale in the Food Hall – such as fresh fish, home-cooked meals, freshly baked bread and home-made cakes and confectionery – are the basis for catering for events which include birthday parties, Christenings, corporate events and weddings. It can also take the stress out of Christmas celebrations with delicious food delivered right to your door.
Mr Gooding said: “My thought process was how do we take our home cooked food from our Food Hall to our customers further afield? We have lovely, loyal customers who like to socialise, and this allows us to take the culinary pressure off them through either on site collection or a home delivery service. We very much support local suppliers and traditional family values of top-quality food and the best service for our customers.”
