Open for Business

03/04/08

After seven years of planning, the Dike & Son superstore opened on 5 November 2007.In the past, the emphasis has always been on ensuring that the customers receive the highest quality of customer service. This is still the same today. Andy Dike, Adam Vincent and the rest of the staff want you to enjoy your shopping experience and will go that extra mile to meet your needs.

The store is specifically designed to create a relaxed and spacious atmosphere and makes the best use of natural light. Andy's father, William Dike, was passionate about over the counter sales and was determined to put in a deli counter, an in-store butcher, a fishery and a bakery.

The team at Dike & Son are committed to supporting local farmers and producers as much as they can.

The meat sold in store is supplied by a butcher based in Pylle near Shepton Mallet called Jon Thorner's. Jon Thorner's specialises in supplying the finest, locally produced meat such as beef reared in the Mendips and a wide choice of game, much of which is supplied from local shoots. For something a little different, Jon Thorner's can supply a collection of more exotic meats such as bison and ostrich and these are available to purchase in the store.

The fish counter is also supplied by Jon Thorner's and a lot of the fish you can find there will have been caught 38 miles away at Avonmouth, so you can expect freshness.

Meat and fish, like all the products in the store, are sold at a variety of prices to ensure that there is something for everyone, no matter what your budget is.

There are more than 300 special money-saving offers at any one time. Throughout the month of April, Dike & Son are offering £5 off every £50 spent in store (see opposite page).

The store has a fantastic range of fresh fruit and vegetables including more unusual delicacies such as fresh horseradish and lemon grass. The potatoes sold in store are supplied by Rowlands farm in Stalbridge and in the beers, wines and spirits section, there is such a large collection of locally-produced beers and ciders that you will be spoilt for choice. For those of you who enjoy good ale, then you should try William's Tipple. This 4.6 per cent ale is brewed by Cotleigh and based much on the popular Golden Hawk ale, but with a special twist. The name William's Tipple is no coincidence. It is named after the late William Dike.

Andy could not think of a better way to toast the memory of his father than with a special beer named after him.

The store has a licensed cafe which provides the perfect place to sit and relax while enjoying a cup of fair trade Cafe DeMont coffee or a delicious home-cooked lunch. The menu offers a variety of hot and cold choices from a range of sandwiches and baguettes to a generous serving of ham, egg and chips. William's Farmhouse Cafe is open Monday to Saturday from 8.30am-4pm. The cafe does not start serving food until 9.30am, however you can always call in on your way to work for that much-needed cup of coffee. If you buy a coffee before 10am, you will receive a free cake.

The cafe uses all locally produced ingredients where possible. Eggs are supplied by Blackacre Farm and the milk used at the cafe is from Blackmore Vale, so you can be sure that it is local dairy farmers who will benefit.

As the cafe has a licence to sell alcohol, you can unwind with a glass of wine or a bottle of William's Tipple. There are plans to open an outdoor seating area from May. Adam and Andy are looking to furnish the south-facing, outdoor area with locally produced furniture which will create a lovely place to enjoy the warm weather with a glass of Pimms. Should you relax a little too much, the staff will be more than willing to organise a taxi to take you home.

Also on offer is a large range of Dike & Son's own range of jams, chutneys, pickles, sauces and much more.

Store manager Adam said: "It is so important to support the local farmers and suppliers. We even did our best to ensure that when this place was being built, the money spent was put back into the community by using local builders and other local firms. SES in Yeovil supplied us with all the security and CCTV equipment.

"Even the stone used to build the store is from the local quarry." Andy added: " We are always looking to take on new products from local suppliers. Simply contact either myself or Adam."

Dike & Son has been a member of Nisa since 1985, and this gives them the power to be able to compete with the large supermarket chains when it comes to selling everyday products. Andy said: "We rate Nisa very highly as a buying group; the promotions we are able to offer are largely down to them."

Another company that the store is associated with is Abpac. Abpac is an environmentally conscious packaging supplier and has been working closely with the store to cut down the amount of waste packaging that it produces.

If you ask Andy what is the most important factor when it comes to running a store, his reply would be the customers. "Going shopping can be a horrendous experience, but here that is not the case. There is room to breathe and the staff will do their best to make you feel like a friend. If you have never been before, by the time you leave we want you to feel like a regular."

The people of Stalbridge could not be happier with the store.

Kay Davidge of Stalbridge said: "This store is really good for the people of Stalbridge, especially for the elderly who cannot travel as easily. It has made things so much easier." Mrs West, also of Stalbridge, added: " I agree, not only is it convenient, but everyone here is so incredibly helpful and ever so friendly."

Another local customer, Derek Northover, believes that it is one of the best things to have happened to the village: "It is the making of Stalbridge. It is a great shop with everything you could need, and it is nice to see such a good level of customer service."

The store is proving to be a big hit already, so what do Andy and Adam have in mind for the future?

"We would love to be able to provide an online service in the future." said Andy. "This is the way that retail seems to be going. Dad used to see the delivery vans from other stores and it made his blood boil. We would like to be able to offer the same service, only better with a more personal touch."

Adam has also been in talks with the local bus company about incorporating the store on its regular route.

Most importantly though, Andy and Adam want to just continue offering what Dike & Son has been offering for years, good quality products combined with warm and approachable staff offering top quality service.

What started as a dream is now a success, Andy said: "I am really proud of what has been created. It is such a shame that my father never saw the outcome of all his work. But I am sure he would be happy with it. In a way it is like he is still here, through this store and through his dream, he will live on."