Lockdown has been tough for all of us in different ways but it’s been great how local shops and small businesses have stepped up to help their communities.
Andrews Greengrocers has been a mainstay on the high street in Holmfirth for many years.
But since last March Andrew Bray, now supported by son Jonathan, has teamed up with other local businesses to deliver to people’s homes, helping keep them safe.
Andrews joined forces with 15 other local suppliers including The Old Bridge Bakery, J Brindon Addy, Lamb2ewe, Hinchliffe’s Farm Shop, Your Nuts, Longley Farm and Yorkshire Squeaky Cheese for home delivery.
Jonathan said: “The philosophy here at Andrews Greengrocers is to provide more accessibility to local produce from local brands to local people.
“Over the past 12 months we’ve had tears from elderly people over the phone as they absolutely love the service we provide.
“They say they would never have thought they’d be able to continue to support local businesses when they were told they had to stay indoors but we’ve been able to let our customers continue to shop local and buy their favourite products.
“We’ve had gifts from sons and daughters who live down South sent to their parents who live up here and we’ve also had parents sending university fruit and vegetable boxes to their sons and daughters.
“They all absolutely love the fact we’re not just working off our own back and that we genuinely work with local brands too.”
Jonathan said the pandemic had transformed the business and added: “Before lockdown we were predominantly a wholesale fruit and vegetable business serving care homes, restaurants and bars.
“But we’ve managed to adapt our business and we’re delighted to have been able to keep our staff employed and continue to provide an excellent service to our customers.
“We hope our story provides hope for customers, employees and business owners that in the 21st century, with the help of the internet and with drive and determination, with pulling together as small businesses, there’s a future for us and we look forward to the future ahead.”
