WE'RE starting to run a series of South West Farmer 'looking back' pieces. To kick us off, we are looking at the opening of the Mole Valley Farmers store in North Devon. Do you remember this? 

Mole Valley Farmers, the company which pioneered the country store concept back in the 1960s, welcomed the first customers through the doors of its brand new £2 million flagship country superstore in North Devon on March 2 2024.

A unique development in the agricultural and country retailing sector, the innovative new superstore on the Pathfields Business Park, at South Molton, was a massive step forward in terms of its size, quality and the range of products it offered. With 18,000 square feet of retail floor space and display areas, it provides farmers, countryside dwellers and the general public in the area with a choice of more than 22,000 stock items.

The 7.5-acre site will provided warehousing, offices, a 1.5-acre external display area and storage facilities, together with a large, easily accessible car park with more than 200 spaces.

In addition to meeting the needs of its traditional farming customers, Mole Valley Farmers says many more town and country dwellers will benefit from the attractive, relaxed retail environment and wide choice of products.

For Mole Valley Farmers, which operated 27 retail outlets from Cornwall to Kent in 2004, this was its largest retail development.

Ranald Fowler, chairman of Mole Valley Farmers, said the new flagship store represents the next generation of country stores and, in terms of scale and quality, will equal those operated by leading national and multi-national retailers.

He also pointed out that the new store is causing great excitement and a sense of challenge amongst those who will transfer from the existing South Molton outlet in Station Road which, despite its limitations on parking, is already one of the company’s busiest outlets.