The family unit behind Rectory Farm diversified their operations during the Covid-19 pandemic, establishing Wild and Furrow Ltd, which quickly became an award-winning oat drink producer.
In the space of two years since siblings Miles, Hannah, and Angus branched out to found Wild and Furrow, the business has made significant strides in the market, earning local food and drink awards for their commitment to quality and sustainability.
To meet increased demand from the local community, distributors, and the annual Shambala Music Festival, the company faced the critical challenge of upgrading their machinery to improve efficiency and productivity. With the help of the Rural Ngage team at Ngage Solutions, Wild and Furrow was awarded an £81,000 grant from West Northants Council via the government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund.
Along with their own investment, this funding, which covered 50% of the total project costs, has enabled the purchase and installation of new production equipment, allowing the company to increase production capacity to meet growing demand, and create three new jobs: a Production Team Member, a Bottling and Packaging Specialist, and an Administrator.
Wild and Furrow has achieved rapid growth, from producing 200 bottles per week to an average of 2,000 bottles per week, with peak production reaching 7,000 bottles during summer festivals. The expansion project, funded by the grant, included the purchase of essential equipment such as pasteurisation tanks, holding tanks, a plate heat exchanger, and a glass bottler.
Will Dallimore, Rural Business Support Manager at Rural Ngage, said: “It’s great to support a business producing local food and drink products which add value to local agricultural produce. Generating a stable income on farm is key to business sustainability. The increased employment is also key to supporting multi-generational farm businesses and the wider local community. This type of project often exceeds employment expectations as the business grows and increases output.”
The overall product is completely plastic-free, packaged in refillable glass bottles, while the drink itself is gently pasteurised at lower temperatures to ensure a delightful taste. Wild and Furrow has implemented several other sustainable practices, including the use of solar power, recycling glass bottles, and reducing waste through just-in-time processes. The company also sells oat pulp to local businesses for use in cosmetic products, further minimising waste. Additionally, a 95.7 kW solar power unit will be installed to further support Wild and Furrow’s commitment to sustainability.
As part of a family with 80 years of experience in cultivating crops such as oats, wheat, barley, peas, and beans, the siblings had plenty to draw upon as they created their premium barista-quality oat drink that celebrates British farmers by using carefully sourced oats from their own farm and neighbouring farms.
Rural Ngage is part-funded by the UK government through the Shared Prosperity Fund.
For businesses interested in taking similar steps, please contact us at ruralngage@ngagesolutions.co.uk