A YOUNG entrepreneur from York is living proof that it is possible to beat the credit crunch.

Despite the difficult trading conditions, Sadie Hopkins, who owns the coffee and ice cream parlour La Cremeria, in High Petergate, has taken the plunge and expanded her business.

The 27-year-old, who opened La Cremeria in 2006, has now leased the adjoining premises through Blacks Property Consultants and transformed it into York Coffee Emporium.

Only three weeks after opening, she is already attracting regular customers who can’t get enough of her freshly-roasted coffee.

The shop also sells a full range of coffee-making products, unusual teas and dairy-free and vegan chocolate.

Demand is so high, Sadie is even setting up a website for online sales.

“People are reluctant to make large purchases at the moment, so I’ve stocked the shop with lots of small things that aren’t too expensive, and it’s working,” she said.

“If you’ve got a good product that people want, it doesn’t matter about the economic climate.

“People are coming in just for the coffee and I’m starting to build up regular customers who come in every week just to get their coffee.”

Sadie, who has a coffee roasting machine inside the shop, said: “There are so many people in York who are sick to death of hearing about all the gloom and doom.

“Lots of people who have come in have said how great it is to see something good happening.”

Susie Cawood, head of York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, congratulated Sadie.

She said: “It’s great to hear a good news story and I’m delighted to hear of a young entrepreneur doing well and expanding.

“She’s an inspiration to others and her new shop underpins the excellent retail offering we have here in York.”