Hot Spot: The Farm Byron Bay

The Farm, located in the foothills of Byron Bay New South Wales, has become one of the most successful businesses in northern NSW to open this year. Enticing visitors from around the world with the beautiful scenery of the surrounding hinterland, amazing cuisine from their restaurant ‘Three Blue Ducks’ and creating an atmosphere suited for any family, The Farm has created a captivating business strategy.Tom and Emma Lane purchased the property in 2013 and quickly set about creating a family friendly space with the purpose of educating people on the wonders of food produce. The duo had previously worked in advertising and the fashion industry before settling down to start the family they have today.“We have four young children, all under twelve years of age, and we wanted to teach them where food came from,” explains Tom. “So, we bought a small farm and set about growing veggies, having chooks and raising beef. It was so rewarding that we thought we should do it on a larger scale for the community.”When Tom and Emma first began planning the business they set about creating the motto ‘Grow, Feed, Educate,’ which has become the backbone of The Farm. “That’s not just growing food or feeding people, but growing small businesses and giving them a start,” explains Tom.The Farm now houses three unique businesses on it’s luscious property including: award winning restaurant ‘Three Blue Ducks’, ‘The Produce Store’ and The Bread Social,’ creating jobs for over 80 workers.“These are all new jobs for the Byron Bay region and we see this growing over the coming years,” says Tom.Tom attributes the success of The Farm to an increasing need of wanting to know how your food is grown. “Knowing where your food comes from is becoming increasingly important, particularly the concept ‘you are what you eat’,” says Tom. “Put this concept in a beautiful part of the country where people come to relax and enjoy life then mix in some great customer offerings and you have a winning formula!”With all the businesses and workers employed by The Farm it’s understandable to assume it would be tricky keeping everyone on the same track. But Tom explains his background in retail has helped him to understand that everyone needs to work together for the same outcome. “We have a strong vision and mission statement that helps keep us on track.”As The Farm continues to grow and incorporate accommodation by the end of 2016, it’s hard to see any limits to the evolution of this thriving business.