Ceres Natural Foods in Yeovil celebrated its landmark 40th anniversary this month with a series of instore events.
“We’ve had a really busy month with dozens of events, and we’ve given away hundreds of goody bags and thousands of free samples,” co-manager Jenna Evans told NPN. “The support we have received from within the industry has been overwhelming and we would like to say a big thank you to all those who helped make our birthday so special.”
“This month has been about celebrating all our loyal customers and we’ve given them plenty of treats – including no less than 14 hamper prizes, all chock full of wonderful products, kindly donated by our industry friends. We feel that 40 years is no small feat and want to acknowledge that we could never have done that without the truly awesome team we have at Ceres, whose knowledge, compassion and commitment keep the customers coming back – maybe for another 40 years!”
We feel that 40 years is no small feat and want to acknowledge that we could never have done that without the truly awesome team we have at Ceres, whose knowledge, compassion and commitment keep the customers coming back
So what has made the store so successful? Evans believes that having well-trained, dedicated staff is crucial and a big part of the store’s longevity. “We are very much an established local trusted source of information,” she explains. “We work in a holistic way, looking at a customer’s diet and lifestyle, to tailor make something for that individual.”
“Many of our customers have been coming back for years and there are a few members of staff who have been here so long they have seen some of our customers grow up and know several generations of the same family. We also have a big link to local therapy centres and therapists; they recommend people to come and see us and vice versa. So that keeps that sense of community going, and this is the most important thing.”
Main image: store owner Peter Jenkins cutting the store’s vegan 40th birthday cake with Catherine Hansford from Peace, Love & Bananas bakery.
