‘People prefer coming here to the supermarket’ - new food store opens in Stockwood

After the closure earlier this year of the large McColl’s store and the post office, Stockwood residents are used to local shops shutting but they have welcomed a new business.

Called simply Local Fruit and Veg, the new greengrocers and general store has opened in the Hollway Road unit previously occupied by Crazy Angels hairdressing salon.

Selling a range of fresh fruit and vegetables, milk, eggs, plants and freshly made smoothies, the shop has already proven a hit with local residents who have had to rely on the local Co-Op until now.

Local Fruit and Veg is run by the same owner as Mario’s Cafe next door and the idea behind it was to offer cash-strapped locals more of a choice when it came to fresh produce.

Manager Sawen said: “So far, business has been very good and people like the shop.

“They say they prefer coming here to buy loose fruit and vegetables rather than having to buy packets of six from the supermarkets. Here, they can buy individual fruit and veg fresh each day and it’s cheaper.”

One of the big sellers so far has been local ‘Nightingale Valley’ honey made in Brislington, which has already sold out this week, and jams from Keynsham business Heavenly Hedgerows. The shop also sells chilli plants, flowers and baklava.

Sawen said: “It’s a little bit quieter at the moment because of the school holidays but we get a real mix of ages coming here and we were especially busy on school days as we open at 8am and the school is just around the corner.”

The new shop has also benefited from the growing success of the Stockwood market, which runs on the last Saturday of the month.

Sawen said: “It’s a very good market and it has been good for us because people visiting the area on those market days have also discovered our shop for the first time.”