30 May 2008, 18:50 PM
  • A forecourt store in Devon has become the first in the county to open a franchised Love the Flavour branded ‘shop in a shop’ for Food & Drink Devon.





The pilot Love the Flavour franchise has opened in Townstal Road Garage in Dartmouth, a BP filling station and SPAR convenience store run by Holliss Filling Stations.

Store owner Julian Holliss, a board member of Food & Drink Devon, said, “We are delighted to take on this first Love the Flavour franchise.  For us, it is a continuation of our ethical partnership with local producers. It’s about knowing the local market and working with the suppliers to get the right product on the shelves.

“In our experience, quality products offering local traceability and healthy benefits sell well and provide us with a vital point of difference. Local Farmers Markets also promote us to their customers so that they can buy favourite products between markets. 

“The Love the Flavour shop will give customers excellence and convenience in Dartmouth. To survive, businesses have to do what they do well and we are putting our many years of commercial and retail experience into making the “pilot” franchise a success so that Food & Drink Devon can roll the model out elsewhere.”

A second generation family business, with three filling stations in the South Hams, Holliss Filling Stations has been at the Dartmouth site since 1991. The family business has always worked with local suppliers and farmers wherever possible. Now the aim is to supplement SPAR proprietary goods with Love the Flavour quality, local products.

Food & Drink Devon has recently expanded to promote the Love the Flavour brand countywide with part funding of £61,500 from Devon Renaissance, the rural regeneration partnership organisation for the county.