The owner of a new deli says she was inspired to step up to the plate after seeing the big supermarkets shut deli and meat counters.

Nicky Reader opened her East Street Deli in Faversham on Tuesday much to the delight of residents who have seen their local stores cut back in recent times.

Speaking to KentOnline about the exciting project, the mum-of-two admitted the loss of such services in places such as Tesco and the recent closure of the town’s Morrisons left her feeling aggrieved.

“Morrisons is now closed, Sainsbury’s and Tesco closed their deli counters years ago and it just felt like there was never anywhere you could go to get a small piece of cheese or ham,” began Nicky.

“It felt like you were being forced to buy the amount the supermarket wanted to sell and pay however much they wanted.

“I did feel aggrieved about it.

“I just said: ‘We need somewhere in town for people to go and get something, we need a little deli’ and I want to create a place where people can do more than shop.

“People can get a coffee and see a familiar, friendly face behind the counter - I do think supermarkets have lost the personal touch and there’s no relationship anymore.

“When they had the deli counter and meat counter at Morrisons - Market Street - that was a big thing and you could get exactly what you wanted, you could ask for advice and get key bits of details you can’t have now.”

Nicky, who moved into the town in 2016 to be closer to her partner’s parents, said she fell in love with Faversham after various visits and described the current set-up as “falling on lucky street”.

Having worked in the City and having had previous small business experience in the way of her cake-making endeavours, Mrs Reader will be no stranger to the size of the challenge that lies ahead.

Open Tuesday to Saturday and on Sundays when the Antiques Market is in town, Nicky hopes the presence of the deli can provide the mix Faversham residents need from their food shops.

She said: “I think people have come to appreciate the local shops and championed them, Faversham has got a really good local economy and I’ve got a good feeling about our neighbours.

“I want somewhere people can talk about food, talk about themselves, it’s important to me that this place feels like it has a soul.

“We’re asking people what they want to see, we want to hear what is needed and bring that in - this is a place for everyone to use.

“We currently sell bread, freshly baked bakery items and vegetables. We also serve good coffee and in time will be offering sandwiches and salads.”

The arrival of the new store will be music to the ears of Faversham residents who lost a similar shop in MB Food Hall last year.

Bringing the shutters down last October, customers lamented the loss of the food hall - with one resident calling it “a terrible loss”.