A Stewartry village shop is moo-ving ahead after tapping into a local milk supply.
Managers Vicki Pitts and James Higgs have seen sales of the white stuff rocket since Torr Farm installed a vending machine.
The local organic dairy is just half a mile down the road and delivers fresh every day.
The enterprising duo also introduced a glass bottle reuse scheme to boost the new system’s low carbon credentials.
Vicki, 39, said: “Everyone in the village likes it. It better, it’s nicer, it’s local and there’s no waste plastic bottles.
“We’re selling the glass bottles then people come back to fill them up again and again.
“We are selling a lot more than normal. Our milk sales have gone up a lot.”
Vicki and James also source meat and fresh vegetables from suppliers close to the shop.
Last week the shop shifted to full time opening, 8am-6pm Monday to Saturday.
Previously business hours had been 8am-1pm daily.
“It’s an experiment to see if it works better for people,” said Vicki.
“We can only have two people in the shop at the same time. We did not want folk queuing outside for a long time in winter.
“We have taken on more staff to make this possible.”
Community owners Auchencairn Initiative are renting the shop and tearoom to Vicki and James.
The lease is for three years with an option to extend.
