Faced with the lack of their own village shop, the people of Spreyton, just outside Crediton, got together to build and run their own.
The community shop stocks most of its produce from within 10 miles, and from its window you can see one of the farms that supplies it – there’s a real sense that you can’t get more local than this.
The shop also has Devon crisps, Devon dairy products, and even exotic herbs and spices, which have been put together in Devon, too.
Roo Haywood Smith, chair of Spreyton Village Shop Association Limited Roo Haywood, said: “We have been funded and guided by many organisations. We were funded for four days of business advice by the Store is The Core, which really inspired us.
“We really benefited from their advice; we have proved commercial viability. Our village shop, which closed three years ago, was well supported.
“Because people missed the shop, because it was needed, we began really thinking about this project in 2008.
“We have something like 30 people who are prepared to come and help out in the shop, some for half a morning, others for a whole day every two weeks or so,” said Roo.
Funding has come from such sources as the Village Retail Services Association (VIRSA), Greater Dartmoor Enterprise Action Fund (LEAF), West Devon Borough Council, Devon County Council plus selling shares in the shop, which cost £10 and enable to holder to be part of the project, have a say in what happens to any profit we make after loans are paid back and have an account in the shop.
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