Deli-vert serves up a recipe for success

Apr 25 2008 by Barry Ellams, Chester Chronicle

Deli-vert serves up a recipe for success

A HOOLE delicatessen has scooped a top award, just months after opening.

Deli-vert, of Faulkner Street, won Best Local Produce Shop at the 2008 Chester Food and Drink Festival.

Proprietor, Chris Mayer, said: “It’s been great for business. Since we were nominated on the website we have had so many new people coming in.”

Chris, 39, opened the deli in August last year. Living in Boughton with his wife Heidi and daughter Lottie, 12, he is a trained children’s nurse and previously worked as a manager in the NHS.

“We have a 50:50 policy at the deli whereby 50% of what we sell comes from 50 miles from here. So as well as local cheeses, pies eggs and cakes, we also stock things like, olives, coffee, tea and biscuits from around the world.”

Deli-vert supports the Made in Cheshire campaign.

According to Chris, closure of the Hoole Bridge hasn’t had much effect on business.

“I lived in Hoole when I first moved to Chester and the locals have been really supportive. Christmas was really busy with orders for hampers and cheese boards and it just carried on after that.

“We were worried about the closure but after the first few weeks, it hasn’t really affected the business on the whole.”

The delicatessen employs eight part- time staff.