South Downs village shop scoops ‘national shop of the year’ award

Fittleworth Stores has scooped the title of National Village Shop of the Year in the Farm Shop and Deli Awards 2020.

Announcing the accolade, judges said that the village shop was “absolutely at the heart of their community, with staff that span all ages including Duke of Edinburgh scheme students.

“Profits are reinvested into the community and they provide a meeting place for local groups and combat isolation for older people. Well run, with good business acumen.”

The award has delighted villagers who spent nearly three years planning, fundraising and building the community shop, post office and cafe before it finally opened in October 2018 alongside a brand-new playground near the village hall.

The project was the brainchild of Alison Welterveden who brought it to fruition with the help of Shelagh Morgan, Mick Foote and Sammi Leese - and support from the rest of the village, many of whom now volunteer as helpers in the shop.

The shop itself has a full range of groceries, fresh bread, milk, eggs, meat and fruit and vegetables, along with household goods and over the counter medicines, pet food, plants and flowers, logs and kindling, cards, gifts, local crafts and local produce as well as newspapers and magazines.

Mick Foote, chairman of the Fittleworth Stores Committee, said: “Supporting local producers is a key element of what we do and ensures that our range of stock is unique and differentiates us from local supermarkets.”

He added: “By creating a new community hub, we have brought together our village. It enables different generations to work alongside each other, provides social contact for many as customers or volunteers and gives us a meeting place.”

Since the coronavirus outbreak, the shop has had to introduce shorter opening hours and close its cafe but it is now providding an extensive delivery service for the elderly, ill or those in isolation in the area.