A RECRUITMENT drive to fill more than 60 vacancies has been launched by a Bradford-based farm foods business as its latest venture comes to fruition.

The new jobs are being created at Keelham Farm Shop’s new £4 million 20,000 sq ft store near Skipton. The final phase of construction at the Gargrave Road site starts this week and the shop will open to the public in June.

It was originally intended to open on Yorkshire Day – August 1– last year but the project was held up by amendments to the original plans demanded by Craven District Council.

Work has now begun on the interior fit-out, following completion of the shell last week. Fresh produce will account for 75 per cent of stock and the new store will also have a bakery, delicatessen and butchers.

The interior will also feature a ‘living wall’ with foliage growing up it and a 140-seat café. There will be parking for more than 100 cars.

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Victoria Robertshaw, who runs the multi award-winning Thornton-based business with her brother, James, said: “We have a terrific range of job opportunities throughout the shop, in our butchers, bakery, fruit and veg section, juice bar, delicatessen, café, production kitchen, florists and office administration.

We’re looking forward to building our new Keelham family at Skipton and we have a range of roles available – from shop floor to butchery apprenticeships – each with training and development programmes.

“The team in Thornton are passionate about providing our customers with great tasting, affordable, locally-sourced ingredients and we’re looking to expand that recipe in Skipton.”

Keelham Farm Shop sources produce from more than 400 local farmers and suppliers, many of them local, and regularly buys meat at Skipton Auction Mart.

The Skipton development was announced as part of a five-year expansion plan which also included acquiring Thornton pie-maker H Ambler and Sons Ltd in 2013 to make pies exclusively for Keelham.

Steve Voke, project manager at the Skipton store, said: “We’re working alongside Bradford-based construction company H B Projects to ensure that the interior fit-out is completed to the highest standard, in line with Keelham’s ambitious vision for the shop.

“H B Projects are looking to work alongside the Keelham team in supporting the local community by inviting local schools to visit during the exciting fit out stage as part of the Considerate Constructors Scheme. I think customers will be truly impressed with the transformation of the space."

Those interested in working at the new shop should send a CV to team@keelhamfarmshop.co.uk.