What’s new in-store
Did you know we now have 2000 lines in the store?
We have expanded our meat offer & we aim to have a good selection at all times, at competitive prices. We also have our own  brand dry goods.

We stock flavoursome, award winning quality meat from Lovaton Farm, South Tawton, Okehampton. All from traditional & native breeds of beef, lamb & pork, with the animals enjoying outdoor living for as much of the year as possible.

The Lovaton Farm team is committed to wildlife friendly farming & sound animal husbandry. Try their beef steak (braising, rump, burgers), topside joint. Lamb mince, chops, shank & sausages.
Find out more at www.traditionallyrearedmeat.co.uk

We have increased the number of pork products we sell from the Free Range Farmer in Seaton- pork belly, chops, loin steaks, honey roast ham more types of bacon ... apple smoked.

We have different pack sizes of chicken from Otter Valley poultry eg chicken thighs (2, 4 or 6), chicken fillets (2 or 4).

We have introduced a range of Real Food Store branded larder essentials that offer excellent value for money including oats, muesli, nuts, dried fruits, sugar (demerara, muscovado), tinned soups from Suma, Clipper teas & healthy snacks (Kallo rice cakes, sesame sticks)

NEW IN!
EASTER EGGS from Divine Chocolate, very local honey from Exeter based hives from John Easton, South Devon Chilli Farm chilli jam & Ella’s Kitchen baby food!

Improving the Store
Dave Stickland RF board member & retail whiz has been working with the staff team since January. Have you noticed the many improvements in store? Our better layout will help you find things! New displays, presentation of goods & improved systems are making the store more efficient and visually appealing. Have you seen the new colour scheme in the café with new presentation of the menu beautifully executed by Sally?

We are also working on making the link between the café and the store- it is surprising how many of the café clientele do not realise that the café & store are linked. We are encouraging café customers to shop for their groceries after they’ve enjoyed their meal! You will start to see displays of store goods & interesting messages linking café to store. You will also notice that the volume of treats & ‘fancy goods’ have been reduced giving more space to staples- but we do now have lovely Easter eggs.

Have you seen our new leaflets designed by Krage Design? http://www.kragedesign.co.uk

Ask for some copies in-store to give to friends, family & colleagues.

What’s on at the café
Janet Sainsbury ‘My family & other people’ 12 March – 14 April 2012

Janet Sainsbury is an Exeter based contemporary visual artist working in
collage, paint & other media forms. This exhibition looks at the ambiguous
relationships we have with animals & nature, through idiosyncratic pictures
that are humorous, colourful & accessible. All the art is for sale.

Meet Frankie our new cook!
Frankie Ebdon, joined as café chef in January and brings a star quality to the café, as did Sima Cutting who left in September to start her own catering business in Totnes. Kelly Luff bridged the two with great culinary flair.

Frankie brings his love of delicious ingredients & creation of hearty rustic dishes. He was raised on an organic smallholding where his parents run the successful Marshford Farm in North Devon. Interview coming soon.
Sally Williams goes on maternity leave from 05 March. We thank Sally who, together with Ian Taylor the Assistant Manager, have put in a huge amount of energy to get the enterprise up & running.
Bill Smith who many of you will have got to know as the ‘main man’ in the grocery section of the store, has now left to start a whole food business in Newton Abbot.

Marketing the Real Food Store
Not just local & ethical, our products offer excellent value for money our
staples in particular- veg, eggs, milk, bread. We are now reaching out to new customers with this message. We have a great new leaflet about the RFS & Emma’s Bread, the in-store artisan bakery. Would you to help us drive sales & raise awareness of the store? Please come in & ask staff for leaflets to put in your work place or a public venue. Let staff know where you will be putting them. See page 2 of this newsletter for info on our Takeaway offer & how you can help spread the word. Have you spotted the new supermarket match labels that are appearing in-store? We want you to know about our excellent value on a range of staples & other items from our veg to eggs to honey roast ham from the Free Range Farmer.

REAL FOOD VOLUNTEERS
We need you! Would you like to volunteer for specific tasks at specific times & be part of the action at RF? (Food preparation at the take-away counterstock room or shelf-filling) Key shift is between 8-11 am; some afternoon work too). We would love to hear from any members who would like to join a rota. You will receive training, discounted shopping & lovely food & drink after your shift. Please write to volunteer@realfoodexeter.co.uk
You will hear back from Les Bright, RFS member who is our new member volunteer coordinator!