Leading Award winning Yorkshire Deli � Weetons of Harrogate � Marks its 5th Birthday by welcoming its 500,000th customer�

FIVE YEARS, 104,000 STEAKS AND 75,000 BOTTLES OF WINE LATER � YORKSHIRE�S MOST FAMOUS DELI CELEBRATES HALF-A-MILLION CUSTOMERS

Leading Yorkshire deli Weeton�s of Harrogate marked its fifth birthday by surprising its 500,000th customer with a complimentary basket of locally sourced goodies this week.

Shopper Ewa Pyrah got more than she bargained for during her twice-monthly grocery shop at Weeton�s deli, when MD Andrew Loftus presented her with the gourmet gift to celebrate the shop�s 5th anniversary, being celebrated on Friday 6th August.

Food lover Ewa, who has been shopping at Weeton�s since the very first day it opened, travels to the town centre deli from her home in Leeds each month in order to buy her groceries because, she says, �it�s just full of the kind of food I love to eat�.

�There�s lots of things I love about Weeton's,� said Ewa (pronounced �Eva�), who is originally from Poland. �The staff are great and their customer service is second to none. The fresh produce is always really fresh and although many of the products comes from Yorkshire there is also a great deal of diversity.�

Famous for its fine meats (including beef from Loftus�s own �Weeton Herd�), up to 50 different regional cheeses and more than 1,000 lines of Yorkshire produce, the deli has also sold more than 75,000 bottles of wine, 20,000 giant meringues and over 54,000 Big Fred burgers since it opened in 2005.

�It has been an amazing five years, and I don�t think we ever imagined we�d be honouring our half a millionth customer in 2010!� says managing director Andrew Loftus, who gave up his city career in London to open the deli. �In that time, however, we�ve spent almost �4m with local suppliers, created 32 jobs, and remained committed to our original pledge to supply high-quality locally-produced food to help revive the flagging fortunes of many family farms.�

-ENDS-

Editor�s Notes

� Weeton's is owned, managed and supplied by farmers. The business was formed in early 2005 as a partnership between three dairy farmers, father and son team John and Andrew Loftus, and John Grantchester. Weeton's takes its name from the Loftus family's famous Weeton Herd of pedigree Holstein Friesians, founded by Frank Loftus at Preese Hall Farm four generations ago. � Weeton�s is located at 23/24 West Park, Harrogate, HG1 1BJ, 01423 507 100, info@weetons.com. � www.weetons.com is the ultimate website for food lovers, with bags of inspiration to tempt your taste buds, including recipes, insider tips and a taster of what�s in store.

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