A health food store in Chester is celebrating 40 years of keeping people in the city fit and well.

The Granary health food store, in Northgate Street, was first opened in 1976 by vegetarians Chris and Kate Quartermaine, who believed that people should have access to foods that were wholesome and healthy.

At first, nearly everything that was sold was bought in bulk from London and packed down for the shop. The duo bought an old Post Office van, and started regular trips to the capital to collect brown rice, beans, nuts and dried fruits.

As wholefoods became more popular, more local suppliers appeared, so the regular run became trips to Corwen every week.

The Granary health food store in Northgate Street is celebrating 40 years in business
The Granary health food store in Northgate Street is celebrating 40 years in business

Chris said: “Back in the 1970s it was unusual to eat wholefoods, and it turned out that The Granary was the only shop in Chester selling wholemeal flour, so the centre of the shop was simply stacked with cases of flour.

“As time went on, the demand for flour became less as supermarkets started stocking it, but then it was discovered that The Granary was the only shop in Chester selling cartons of orange juice, so the pallets of flour were replaced with pallets of orange juice!

The Granary health food store in Northgate Street is celebrating 40 years in business: owner Chris Quartermaine
The Granary health food store in Northgate Street is celebrating 40 years in business: owner Chris Quartermaine

“Originally the philosophy was that if you had a healthy diet, you didn’t need to take vitamins and supplements. However customers soon started asking for these - they would buy a remedy and come back and say how helpful it was.

“Soon the importance of vitamins and supplements in today’s denatured diet was recognised and staff have become very knowledgeable about the products and regularly give advice and help.”

The Granary will be holding birthday celebrations all week commencing Monday, May 23 with discounts and raffles.

Have you shopped at The Granary since 1976? Let us know in the comments below.