South Devon’s Surfing Cow Ice Cream shortlisted for two top rural awards

A local company is in the running to be named one of the best rural businesses in the UK after being shortlisted for a regional Rural Business Award.

Surfing Cow Ice Cream, which is based at South Battisborough Farm near Holbeton in South Devon has been shortlisted in the Best Rural Diversification Project and the Best Rural Food or Drink Business category at the 2019/20 Rural Business Awards, held in partnership with Amazon. The local company will battle it out against fellow rural businesses, entrepreneurs and enterprises from across the region for a place at the national final.

Surfing Cow Ice Cream was established last year by dairy farmer Lawrence Glanville and his business partner Alistair Graham. The ice cream is produced from their 450 cows which is made and sold from a parlour on the farm where a huge garden which is open to the public on weekends and during the school holidays.
It also operates a wholesale business with education a key part of the business too. In conjunction with nearby Battisborough House it hosts educational days and residential trips from primary age to those at university.

The Rural Business Awards 2019/20, in partnership with Amazon, will mark the Awards’ fifth year of celebrating the success of businesses across the UK’s rural economy – a segment which employs in excess of 3.4 million people in over 750,000 businesses in England alone. The Awards are organised by rural business for rural business with the aim of celebrating the achievements of rural businesses and developing a strong network for rural business owners.

Speaking after being shortlisted for an award, Lawrence Glanville said: “We are absolutely delighted to have made the shortlist in not just one, but two categories. The Rural Business Awards are very prestigious, and we’re thrilled, as we’re a new company and these awards are a real benchmark honouring and celebrating the very essence of rural life in the south west.”

Director and Co-Founder of The Rural Business Awards, Anna Price, said: “The 2019/20 Awards have seen record numbers of entries and it’s encouraging to see so many rural businesses express a desire to celebrate their successes on a regional and national scale. We are passionate about creating a nurturing environment where rural businesses can develop, and this starts by showcasing the great work they do. On behalf of everyone at the Rural Business Awards, we want to say well done to Surfing Cow Ice Cream, and all the shortlisted businesses, and wish them luck ahead of the regional finals.”

The Rural Business Awards is the brainchild of Leicestershire businesswomen Anna Price and Jemma Clifford, who wanted to showcase the wealth of entrepreneurial talent in rural areas of Britain.

The Awards are organised by rural business for rural business, with winners in the 12 categories - ranging from Best Rural Start-up and Best Rural Diversification Project; through to Best Rural Professional Services Business and Rural Digital, Communications or Media Business - decided by an independent panel of judges drawn from the rural business sector, rural public sector agencies, and rural charitable organisations.

The Rural Business Awards is hosting a series of regional finals in the North, East, Midlands, South East, South West, Wales and Northern Ireland, throughout October and November 2019, ahead of the National Final next February.

To find out more about Surfing Cow Ice Cream, go to sufingcowicecream.co.uk or to learn about the Rural Business Awards visit www.ruralbusinessawards.co.uk

ENDS