Sussex-based Jempson’s is tempting shoppers at its flagship store with a range of homemade, hot takeaway pizzas prepared and baked on site.

The independent retailer, whose hot food offering includes whole chickens, drumsticks, thighs and local sausages, invested in a specialist stone-based pizza oven at its Peasmarsh site at the beginning of the year in response to customer demand.

The pizzas are sold in 7-inch, 9-inch and 12-inch sizes, priced £2.40, £3.60 and £4.80 respectively. They are available in nine varieties, and customers can also select toppings of their choice.

On average, 500 hot and cold varieties are sold each week, with customers placing their orders before they shop and collecting pizzas on the way out. The range has proved a hit with parents and those on their way home from work.

“Sales are steady throughout the day but there is an uplift around school home times and early evening,” a spokesman said. “Very shortly, we’re going to start making the bases in store, too. The feedback has been very positive and there are definitely plans to roll this out to our other supermarkets.”