Meet Cobbs: 17 Years of Suppling Quality Bread

Where did it all start for Cobbs?

Cobbs began in Hungerford in 2007, founded through a passion for quality food with genuine provenance and a desire to give local growers and artisan producers a platform.

Hungerford remains our flagship farm shop, nestled in the beautiful North Wessex Downs. Since then, the Cobbs family has grown to include Theale (Englefield), set within a collection of converted cattle barns near Reading; Winchester, our welcoming Hampshire farm shop and café; and Stratford-upon-Avon, a former fruit farm that was redeveloped into a destination for food, families and the local community.

Although each site has its own character, they all share the same love of good food, local produce and bringing people together.

For anyone who has't visited Cobbs before, how would you describe the Cobbs experience in three words?

Seasonal, local and welcoming

What do you think makes a Cobbs farm shop feel like Cobbs?

It is the combination of good food, good people and a genuine connection to our local area. Our farm shops feel grounded and welcoming, with shelves full of carefully chosen products, plenty of seasonal inspiration and friendly, knowledgable teams who are always happy to help.

We want Cobbs to be somewhere people enjoy spending time, whether they are picking up something delicious for dinner, discovering a new local producer or sitting down with family and friends in one of our cafés. At its heart, Cobbs is about championing the joy of good food and making everyone feel welcome.

You champion lots of local growers and artisan producers. What are you looking for in a supplier?

The product has to be excellent, but we look beyond the product itself. We want to understand a supplier's ethos, how they work and the story behind what they make.

We love working with producers who care about quality, provenance, their people and the impact they have on the world around them.

Strong, thoughtful branding is important too, particularly when it helps tell that story and gives our customers a reason to connect with the product. We love storytelling, so the more there is for us to share, the better!

Do you remember how Hobbs House Bakery first came onto your radar?

Hobbs House Bakery felt like a natural fit for Cobbs. We were looking for excellent bread from a family-run bakery with a strong heritage and an ethos that complemented our own. The quality of bread immediately stood out, but we also loved the story, the people behind the business and their commitment to do doing things properly.

How long have you been working with Hobbs House Bakery? 

We've been working with Hobbs for around 17 years, and the relationship has continued to grow during that time.

How has this relationship developed over the years?

Hobbs just started in one Cobbs farm shop and is now stocked across all four. Their bread is sold in our farm shops and served in our cafés, so it has become an important part of the Cobbs experience.

The relationship feels like a real partnership, built on shared values, honest communication and a mutual love of good food.

What Hobbs product has become a customer favourite?

The Paine De Campagne has been our bestseller this summer! We think families have really enjoyed picking up such a generous, sliced loaf - it goes so far and is perfect for everything from breakfast toast to lunchtime toasties.

It is definitely a team favourite too. It's versatile, full of flavour and the sort of bread that quickly becomes a household staple.

If you had to build the ultimate Cobbs basket, what would be in it?

It would have to begin with something fresh and seasonal. At this time of year, that might be locally grown squash, British apples, potatoes or seasonal root vegetables. I'd add some quality British meat from our butchery, a lovely cheese from the deli, a jar of local chutney and, of course, a Hobbs House loaf. Then perhaps one of our homemade brownies or treacle tarts and a bottle of something good to enjoy alongside of it all.

For us, the ultimate Cobbs basket is not just a collection of lovely products; it contains the beginnings of a really good meal to share with family and friends.

What's next for Cobbs? Is there anything you're particularly excited about?

We want to continue growing Cobbs thoughtfully while staying true to what makes us special: good food, strong local relationships and welcoming places that bring people together.