Lady Bamford's Daylesford farming empire faces mounting losses

Daylesford Farm sells local produce including £8 bunches of asparagus and £10 bags of biscuits. Photo: Daylesford Farm

Lady Bamford's Farm Store Daylesford Organic made a £3.6m loss last year as shoppers avoided its luxury produce.

Daylesford, one of Britain's best-known retailers seller of organic farm products, said her company fell further into the red in 2023 due to losses. increased from £291,000 a year earlier.

The company said the mounting losses were due to a «tough trading environment» as it was hit by a host of inflationary pressures.

It comes as earnings across the business also fell last year, ending a long period of sales growth.< /p>

The company said revenue rose just 2% to £50.2m in its latest financial year, compared with 15% growth a year earlier and 27% growth in the year to March 2021.

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Signs of slowing sales growth follow Daylesford's boom during Covid, during which it became profitable.

The retailer has four stores in some of London's wealthiest areas, including Sloane Square and Marylebone, as well as a farm store in the Cotswolds.

He sells local produce throughout, including £8 bunches of asparagus and £10 bags of biscuits, as well as luxury home and garden items.

Lady Bamford has been expanding her business ventures in recent years, with her latest venture including a health club. Photo: Andrew Crowley

The business is owned by Lady Bamford, whose husband is Tory donor and JCB chairman Lord Bamford.

In Companies House filings, she said she would continue to provide financial support to the business «where appropriate».< /p>

She has been expanding her empire in recent years, opening a new health club last year. on 3,500 acres of organic Daylesford farmland.

Talking to The Telegraph in 2023, she said: “There are lots of places to have fun, but nowhere to really feel good. I didn't want to open it to everyone because there would be too many people there. I think it's as simple as that.»

In the reports, Daylesford said it would be making further investment in the farm, including event space, which would «provide further growth opportunities.»

He currently offers classes such as flower arranging at his Cotswold site.