OWNERS of a supermarket near Selby have been awarded £2,000 after being named a Store Of The Year.

Geoff and Teresa Turner, owners of Londis in Hemingbrough, attended an awards ceremony at the company’s annual conference and gala dinner in Birmingham, where they were named winners in the category for Londis Small Store of the Year 2011.

About 2,000 shops across the country entered the competition and entries were judged on environment, store layout, communications, people and behaviours, customer service, and range.

The judges said: “This store epitomises growing through emerging stronger. In a rural location with a limited customer base, the store continues to reach out to a wider population. Investing in press advertising, in tough times in January 2011, reviewing all of their ranges in the last 12 months, this store is enjoying double-digit sales growth, increased margin and profitability.”

Judges also praised the store for listening to its customers, seeking new customers and creating a small store that locals wanted to shop in.