A new café and artisan food shop with a focus on sustainability and local produce is set to open in Kenilworth this week.

Following the success of its shops in Solihull and Barnt Green, Smithtons Food Market will open its latest branch in Kenilworth this Friday (November 5).

Smithtons, which prides itself on excellent customer service as well as supporting other small businesses, will open at 74 Whitemoor Road.

The first Smithtons opened in Solihull during the first lockdown after business partners Andy Smith and Jon Gayton spotted an opportunity to start a small business dedicated to the community.

Andy's wife Holli explained: "We saw that there was a gap in the market for a small business that wanted to support other small businesses. We wanted to be as sustainable as we could be, and help our customers shop sustainability.

"The idea is that if you support them when they're small, they'll support you, so as one gets bigger so will the other."

Sustainability

As well as a seated coffee area, the Kenilworth branch will stock a variety of locally sourced foodstuffs, from fresh bread, fruit and vegetables, to locally sourced jams and ciders.

With a focus on sustainability, the shop also tries to minimise its plastic use wherever possible. Shopping bags and takeaway food wrappers are paper, the milk it sells is in glass bottles and even the interior has been decorated with the planet in mind.

"We are really big on sustainability, so almost everything in the shop is made of wood," said Holli.

"There is a lot of stuff made from reconstituted pallets and things like that which have been turned into shelving units and the fronts of the counters."

Smithtons takes over from the former kitchen suppliers on Whitemoor Road, so extensive renovations have been needed since they got the keys three months ago.

Having realised his love for building works on the Barnt Green shop, Jon has done most of the renovation in Kenilworth himself to produce "a real labour of love".

Customer service and the community

Smithtons also aims to provide excellent customer service and focus on the local community, with Holli attributing their quick success to this ethos.

"We have been amazed at the success really. Because we are small, and because Andy and John are there grafting in the shops, I think that people are really appreciating almost a return to an old fashioned shop with excellent customer service.

"Customers absolutely love that, and really appreciate the effort that we make."

Holli added that the community focus and the decision to take over the Whitemoor Road shop had a lot to do with the people of Kenilworth.

"Kenilworth has a real local focus," she said.

"And being off the high street means people come directly to us. It allows customers to get to know us better, it helps keep us local and community focused."

Once it is up and running Smithtons will also run a number of events and classes, such as wreath making and cheese tasting nights.

But with the opening just days away they are "really excited" to get going.

"It will absolutely be Thursday night that the things are being put together," said Holli, "but we should all be good for opening on Friday."

Click here to visit the Smithtons Facebook page for more information.

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