A HEREFORDSHIRE business has been crowned the UK's ‘best small independent retailer of the year 2023’.

Drapers’ Lane Delicatessen in Leominster was presented with the prestigious award on September 11 at the Specialty and Fine Food Fair in London.

Peter Morgan, who started the deli with his wife Samantha, said: “We’re delighted, we’re blown away.

“To be the number one best small independent retailer in Britain is just amazing.”

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The small shop was founded in 2020 and is based in part of the old Leominster News building.

They offer locals a variety of quality breads, pastries, cheeses, meats, hampers and more sourced from more than 2,000 product lines.

Customers can also eat in, with lunches being served daily and tapas nights hosted every Friday. Private dining is also available.

Mr Morgan added: “We started up during Covid times. We’re coming up to our third year of opening, we’ve had Brexit, lockdown and the cost-of-living crisis all thrown our way.

“We use three independent bakers; we get our salad from a farm a mile away. There are loads of independents in Leominster and the marches, it’s really important to us that we work with them.

“Leominster’s great, there’s a real community feel, and we’ve done our best to get involved by sponsoring things like the Borderlines film festival.

“We’ve been up against business in much larger places for this award, so the community has really come out in voting for us.

“It’s just great to have our little deli in little Leominster recognised.

“It’s great for us, great for our team and great for the town.”

A spokesperson for the Specialty and Fine Food Fair said: “The event is the home of fine food and drink discovery for buyers from across the retail, hospitality, food service, manufacturing, import and export, and wholesale sectors.

“Recognising and celebrating the individuals and businesses driving excellence and product innovation in the fine food & drink community, the Speciality and Fine Food Fair Awards champion all that makes our industry such a remarkable and inspiring place.”

Among the judges were representatives of Selfridges, the Food Marketing Experts and Moving Food LTD.