A NEW food store and coffee shop that brings together local producers is celebrating its first month of opening with a free taster session this weekend.

The Teddington Stores has been created by local businesswoman Deborah Thompson through her passion for local produce.

She had the idea for the store back in September and has pooled her energies into creating the shop and cafe which is based in the old Fox Saddlery building at the Teddington Hands crossroads.

As well as creating 10 jobs, Ms Thompson, a former London lawyer, works hard to include all local food from chillis to sauces and helps local businesses by selling their products directly to consumers.

“We’re working really hard to make sure that if there’s an item made locally, we sell that and, not the generic one you could buy anywhere.”

Stocks at the store include fruit from nearby Hayles Farm, vegetables from Styan’s in Evesham, bread from La Parisienne in Tewkesbury and beers from The Cotswold Brewery. There are also locally made pies, jams and chutneys alongside a selection of local gins, vodkas and liqueurs.

The store also has Martin’s Meats, from Toddington, who has a rare Himalayan salt-aging fridge. He is supplying beef from his own Longhorn cattle and has sourced a wide range of local meats and meals ready to cook. Ms Thompson is also investing in a range of gourmet fish and seafood from Highland Bay.

The shop’s foyer is devoted to flowers and Michelle Bennett,is the resident florist,.

Another apsect to the shop is hampers either for a gift or to take to the races.

“In the first month we’ve had a fantastic response. On Saturday, January 31, the store will hold its first Producers' Day with suppliers joining forces to offer samples to customers and to talk to them about the range on offer. The range of produce is expanding all the time," added Ms Thompson.