Fine food retailing has gone from decline to expansion in the last year, with a growing number of new enterprises making their debut. Most ambitious of these is the Food Company's fresh food hall at Marks Tey, outside Colchester which is due to open in July. Project coordinator Sue Overington says the 8,000 sq ft development will provide the convenience of a supermarket with the quality, range and service of small specialist food shops. "It will be a bit like a mini Harrods' food hall, with everything under one roof," says Overington. " It will have a delicatessen, baker, greengrocer, wine merchant, fishmonger and butcher, plus sections doing patisserie, chilled prepared ready meals in an open plan kitchen and a restaurant. "All the sections will be run as separate concessions by independent specialists chosen for their high standards, knowledge and expertise. We're only appointing specialists who are fanatical about what they do and can advise and inspire customers." Overington says the food hall, prominently located with direct access to the A12, will target the affluent towns and villages of north east Essex which have a large catchment of ABC1 consumers. Equally well positioned is Harrogate's Ramus Seafoods whose fresh, live, chilled and smoked seafood draws customers from a 50 mile radius, according to managing director Chris Ramus. In August, the company is expanding into adjacent 1,500 sq ft premises at a cost of £100,000 and is extending its range into other fine food areas. "Seafood will be our mainstay and will include an extended range of seafood platters. But we will also be doing patés, wine, game, poultry and fresh stocks. We'll also have a special display of fine food products from Scottish producer Inverawe," says Ramus. "The key to success in this business is always to offer top quality. It always sells." {{FOCUS SPECIALS }}