A WINE merchant who set up a specialist cheese and wine shop around 18 months ago is in the running to win Deli of the Year.
Belinda Harrison set up Harrison’s amongside the many other independent shops in Pitshanger Lane, Ealing, in September 2010.
And this month, the popular store was nominated for Olives Et Al’s Deli of the Year 2012.
After eight years trading imported wines following in the footsteps of her father Douglas, the 31-year-old, of Hanwell, wanted to set up her own business.
Shrewd enough to realise a wine shop alone may not survive the recession, she decided to open a delicatessen selling wines and spirits, more than 50 cheeses, cold meats, olives, oils and artisan chocolates.
“The original idea was to open a wine and cheese shop but the village pantry closed the year before and people asked us for deli products and now it’s a full blown deli,” she said.
Asked how the young business will stand up against long-established delis in the national competition, she said: “I don’t know if we can win. Some delis have been established for 20 odd years, but within the time we’ve been open, we’ve grown a lot and produced a lot of loyal customers.
“I was told we were nominated by six customers. We listen to what they want. Business is going alright, it’s genuinely improving all the time. We’ve been received really well. It’s helped that there’s nothing else like us on the lane.”
Miss Harrison also thanked her staff for helping to win the nomination.
The shop sells wines from small, family run vineyards from all over the world which are not sold in any big chain supermarkets, and is the sole UK trader of a unique Swiss strawberry wine.
A mystery shopper will visit the deli in the next few weeks before the finalists are announced at the end of June. The winner will be unveiled at the glittering Great Taste Awards in September.
