Marnhull Stores of New Street has changed ownership recently and is now being run by Tom and Paul Hawtree from the Spar shop at Riverside Garage, West Stour. The brothers who went to school in Marnhull are thrilled to have taken over the shop. Tom said ‘Marnhull Stores is a shop we’ve long admired and to now have the opportunity to run it is just fantastic. When we were approached by Tracy about succeeding her it was an easy decision, we just had to do it. Being local ourselves and only coming from West Stour we’ve seen a lot of the same friendly faces who use the petrol station which has been wonderful with helping us to feel at home.’ Tom who you will often see behind the counter doing the meeting and greeting is especially fond of the shop as he remembers as a child cycling from West Stour to the store so he could get his football stickers. Since taking over the store the brothers have made it their mission to increase the range of products in the shop and to introduce a one pound value range as well. Paul who is chiefly responsible for the buying and negotiating with Spar said ‘we are trying to get the best products Spar have to offer at the best possible prices onto our shelves, we want our customers to be confident that they can come into our shop and find a range good quality food in order to put together a breakfast, lunch or dinner.
As well as quality food products the boys are equally determined to see value for money on the shelves. In the last month there have been some great deals on leading brands, often beating the supermarket prices. Tom said his favourite moment since taking over was when a young lady came in and told him she had just stopped in on the way past and was on her way to do the weekly shop in one of the big supermarkets and whilst walking around the shop had changed her mind and was going to do a lot of her shopping in the store instead. With quality being key at Marnhull Stores, the brothers are very keen to buy local produce where they can and indeed Spar encourages their shops to support local producers. Since taking over the boys have introduced Dave Chard potatoes from Somerset and have added duck eggs to the free range and barn eggs already supplied by Foots eggs of Bishops Caundle. Looking at the outside of the shop not much has changed so far but the boys say they have plans for that, it’s on the inside of the shop that things are really taking shape. The instore bakery has been reintroduced and every morning there is a fresh offering of croissants, pain au chocolat and French sticks as well as the already popular hot sausage rolls and steak pasties. In the coming weeks the boys plan to be hosting a wine tasting evening with everyone welcome, the details for this event will hopefully be published in the next issue of the Marnhull Messenger. Both Tom and Paul were very keen to show off the shop and you can tell they are very proud to be running it. Next time you’re passing by the door drop in and say hello, the boys will be very pleased to see you and to show you around. With the shop open from 7.30am until 8pm Monday to Saturday and 8 until 12 on Sunday they really are there for you when you need them.
Marnhull Stores and Newsagents 01258 820116