Johns of Instow

A North Devon-based delicatessen described as “integral to its community” has been crowned as the 2015 Farm Shop & Deli Awards’ Retailer of the Year.

Johns of Instow & Appledore was announced as winners of the award – held in association with deli chain Olives Et Al, and organised by The Grocer’s publisher, William Reed Business Media – at the Farm Shop & Deli Show 2015, in Birmingham today (20 April).

The awards recognise the best standards in speciality retail and celebrate the highest levels of service, product knowledge, innovation and community involvement. The deli beat more than 500 nationwide fine food businesses to the accolade, which was judged by some of the UK’s most prominent food experts.

Johns of Instow & Appledore was a “brilliant example of a local shop, offering a complete one-stop offer”, said chair of judges, food critic, journalist and broadcaster Nigel Barden.

“Johns provide a friendly, well-informed service, with a marvellous array of, wherever possible, locally sourced ingredients,” he added. “It’s the type of business that others should strive to be like.”

Choosing an overall winner for this year’s awards had been “all but impossible”, said co-chair of judges Elaine Lemm.

“Ultimately, the choice was not just for a worthy winner but an enterprise that embodies the excellence of farm shops and delis in the UK today,” added Lemm. “The unanimous agreement of the judges demonstrates that Johns of Instow & Appledore is that business and justly deserves the accolade of Retailer of the Year.”

Owners Sue and Anthony Johns are the fourth generation of the Johns family to run the business, which started out in 1940. They opened a café at the shop in 2012 offering a seasonal menu based on local produce, and launched an online store with delivery service earlier this month.

“One of our core strengths is being able to bring so much local produce to customers whilst supporting local producers, they said. “This award is not just for our customers and team, but also in recognition of our local suppliers.”