A RYEDALE venture which was last year declared Britain’s Best Small Shop is on the hunt for further honours in the 2016 Press Business Awards.

Owned for the past eight years by Chris and Christine Garnett, the Hunters of Helmsley deli has entered the Retail, Tourism and leisure category.

The Garnetts take a very active role in the running of the shop, as well as managing the ‘business’ side of the deli, and sourcing the best new products to showcase.

Hunters won its national accolade in February 2015 at an event run by the All Party Parliamentary Small Shops Group and administered by the Independent Retailers Confederation, Simon Danczuk MP said it was chosen by the judges for its local sourcing of produce, organisation of events to support their high street and their use of social media to engage customers.

Hunters targets both local residents and the steady stream of tourists in Helmsley, but says there are many people who travel from far and wide to make regular visits.

“From its characterful Grade II Listed Building to its unusually wide selection of products (at least 2,000), Hunters is an Aladdin’s Cave of food and drink.

“It employs nine full-time employees plus seasonal staff. Many employees have worked at the store for ten-plus years. They share an obvious passion and commitment to providing customers with the very best food and drink.

“Walking into the deli, you get a lovely Yorkshire greeting. Staff go out of their way to source unusual products, or to help with specific requests,” the entry says.

“Chris and Christine both come from farming backgrounds and believe the quality of food and where/how it is produced is vital. Of the products in store, 70 per cent are sourced locally.”

Hunters says quality and provenance are the top priorities over price, but value for money is also important and customers are often surprised at how reasonable a basketful of shopping can be and how much of their weekly shop it’s possible to do at Hunters.

Staff are encouraged to further their learning and development wherever possible and have been on training courses ranging from shop and window displays, hamper making, and hygiene in food preparation to a course focused entirely on cheese.

The owners like to be innovative when it comes to promotions and marketing and Hunters takes an active role in making sure Helmsley stays a thriving market town. Sales and profits are both up on last year.