Kenneth and Jennifer Gracey
Owners: Kenneth and Jennifer Gracey
Business Name: Forthill Farm Shop
Business Location: Tandragee, Co Armagh
Business Launched: 1996
What where you doing before you started the business?
Our family has farmed at Forthill since the 1700’s. In 1996 we decided to add to our suckler cow enterprise by introducing slow maturing beef breeds; followed a few years later by traditional pigs.
Why did you choose the type of business that you did?
We had done some market research and identified an opportunity for direct sales of home grown, rare breed beef. We started stocking long horn and belted Galloway cattle, which were contract butchered for sale as boxed beef (either fresh or frozen). In 1998 we added dry cured bacon and gammon from our own saddleback, Gloucester old spot and Tamworth pigs, to our range of products.
What prompted you to go ahead with the idea?
We took samples of our fresh meat products to key agricultural shows and set up tasting sessions, which resulted in steadily building sales of our beef and pork lines. This encouraged us to develop a web site and investigate selling at the Saturday market in Portadown. The business continued to grow and develop, so in 2007 we took the decision to set up our own farm shop which sells a range of meat products including beef, pork, lamb, venison and poultry as well as speciality foods such as home made jams, honey, Armagh apple juice and ice cream.
What resources did you have to begin with?
We have been farming livestock for a long time and have the skills and expertise to produce quality beef and pork for our customers
My wife Jennifer has considerable experience in product market research.
What advice would you give anyone thinking of starting a new business?
- Research your idea thoroughly at the start.
- Know what your customers want and give it to them
- Identify and develop your product brand
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