Product launch at Harper market

Posted 15 June 2011

A Shropshire milkshake company is preparing to launch a new product at the Harper Adams Farmers Market next month.

Earlsdale Milkshakes will be selling the chocolate flavoured beverage for the first time ever at the market in Edgmond, near Newport, on Sunday July 3.

The drink is aimed at a premium market, using natural ingredients and milk currently sourced from the Harper Adams farm.

Founder, Harry Blake, 22, from Nantwich, Cheshire, said: “We chose to launch the chocolate flavour at this farmers market in particular, because we have been working with the Regional Food Academy based at Harper Adams for some time now.

“They have been helping us during the product development stage, testing and evaluating the flavours and textures through sensory evaluation.

“It was then suggested that the Harper farmers market would be a great platform to launch the drink considering its past success at drawing in customers.”

Co-founder, William Jones, 23, from Habberley near Shrewsbury, graduated from Harper Adams last year having studied agri-food marketing with business studies.

He said: “Milk is seen as a bland commodity so much so that it is retailed for less than the price of bottled water and growing up on a dairy farm, I found this disheartening.

“We believe that with the help of the Regional Food Academy we have created a drink that will reignite consumers tastes for milk”.

Other new stallholders at the market include the Snoggable Garlic Company, Simply Crepes, Bubbling Stove and Guernsleigh Cheese.

Children are being encouraged to enter the ‘scariest scarecrow’ competition with a cash prize of £50 for the winner. Entries need to be on site by 11am, with judging at 12pm.

Entertainment includes music from Newport Brass Band, Ben the Children’s Entertainer and free tractor trailer rides around the campus.

Farmers Market Coordinator, Sue Henderson, said: “It’s fantastic that Earlsdale Milkshakes have chosen the Harper Adams farmers market to launch their product.

“There will be quite a few new stalls compared to previous events, and of course the scarecrow competition, so hopefully there will be something for everyone.”

For more information, contact the Conference Office on 01952 815 324 or visit www.harper-adams.ac.uk

Harper Adams Farmers Market
Sunday July 3, 2011
10am-2pm