While the UK's “non-essential” retailers are tentatively opening up again, the husband and wife team at one “essential” shop have been told to take things a little easier.
Customers at Wigston Fields News & Deli, in south Leicestershire, have had nothing but praise for owners Pratik and Bee Master during the pandemic.
The couple have gone above and beyond during the lockdown, sometimes visiting their wholesalers six times a day to get the essentials that members of their local community need.
They even hired a van to make delivery runs to the most vulnerable, often working 14 hour days, seven days a week.
So when they put a message on their Facebook page asking if people wanted them to open a little later in the evenings – to help people who work during the day – the response was overwhelming.
The page was flooded with comments from customers telling them not to open for any additional hours, telling Pratik and Bee to put their feet up more.
Shopper Jess Norman summed up the general feeling saying “No! I want you two to take a rest! People have every opportunity necessary to shop with you. X”
Nella Serdeczny wrote: “I’m happy coming at 5ish, I agree that you need to have some chill time.”
Pratik said: “We were honestly really surprised.
“We just assumed that some people would be missing out on the chance to use our shop and might find it more convenient to come in the evenings, but it sounds like everyone has a visit to the News & Deli penned into their calendar on the weekend instead.
“Our customers have been so kind, asking after our wellbeing and encouraging us to rest, it just shows what a fabulous community we are privileged to be a part of here in Wigston.”
The Masters took over the Carlton Drive shop from Pratik’s father in February last year, and have used their connections to fill the shelves with good quality, locally made food and drink.
That includes cider from Charnwood, in the north of the county, freshly baked bread from nearby Oadby and macarons made near to Abbey Park in Leicester.
In all they support more than 50 local producers.
While the daily newspaper is still important to them, championing high quality, local produce has proved a hit with the locals.
Pratik said: “Even on the busiest Saturday, we could perhaps expect to see 100 customers in a day.
”On our re-launch day, we estimate that nearly 1,000 people came through the doors – I just couldn’t believe it.”
