“At the Heart of Bradford-on-Avon”

Bloomfield's Greengrocers in Bradford on Avon

Karen Bloomfield grins happily, warming her frozen, mittened hands on her electric kettle. Her cheerful red and white bobble hat nods gently as she speaks. The rain sheets down relentlessly outside her tiny greengrocers shop, a small, but prime, location in The Shambles, Bradford-on-Avon.

“I am at the heart of Bradford-on-Avon”, she explains, describing her customer base as “very loyal”, many having visited her shop for nearly 30 years.

It’s easy to see why. Despite the foul weather, the inside of her shop is a riot of colour, glossy fruit and veg of every description packed into the store itself, and pushing out onto the pavement. The produce looks big, healthy, and delicious, and with daily 7.30 a.m. deliveries from Bath Wholesale, six days a week, the food is incredibly fresh, even in the depths of winter.

Bradford on Avon celebrates 30 years of Bloomfield's and BoA Business present her with the Crystal Vase in recognition of her contribution to the town.

Karen has a passion for food. 

As a young sixteen-year-old, she enrolled in a Hotel & Catering course, determined to own her own pub. After a year Karen decided it wasn’t for her,  and found a stop-gap job in the greengrocer shop, while looking for a new career. Thirty years’ on, she is still a dedicated produce supplier, who hasn’t had a holiday for ten years. She says she doesn’t want to let her customers down.

Karen remembers the day, aged 23, when she was offered the ownership of the shop, by her employer. 

She describes how unconfident she felt, taking on the enormous responsibility of running her own business, but her boss convinced her to have faith and say yes. Luckily for us, she took that leap, describing the perks of the business by saying “What I put in, is what I get out”.

Recently, Karen’s value in the community was confirmed, when her father passed away and she closed the shop, uncharacteristically, for ten days. Her customers were very keen to tell her how much she was missed, and despite the sadness of the event, Karen felt a support and commitment from her customers that gave her comfort and confidence in her work.

Seasonal, and fresh, are her top priorities

Karen loves running her own business, and loves her central location, where she can be her own boss, and knows everybody in town. Even the pupils from local Christchurch school visit weekly, choosing their own produce, and carrying it up to the school for their school dinners.

Seasonal, and fresh, are her top priorities, and even in mid-February customers are tempted by startlingly pink Yorkshire rhubarb, gorgeous clementines, all manner of freshly picked vegetables, and newly laid eggs from Woolley Park Farms’ own hens.

It’s difficult to describe how satisfying it is to see this small, local business thriving, providing the most delightful and delicious-looking fruit and vegetables to this food-loving town. Karen is Bradford-on-Avon born and bred, and she gives back to her community in a joyful and energetic way. We can’t imagine what the town would do without her.

Marcie Layton, 14 February 2018
MOVEABLE FEAST CATERING COMPANY
01225 859965