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More on KentOnline
Barely a month after Detling Community Store celebrated its first birthday comes news of reasons for another celebration.
The store has been awarded runner-up in the Best Rural Start Up Business category of the Rural Business Awards national finals.
The results were announced online for the first time due to lockdown by the BBC Escape to the Country presenter Jules Hudson after judging by an independent panel, drawn from the rural business sector, rural public sector agencies, and rural charitable organisations.
Richard Finn, chairman of the Detling Community Interest Company which runs the store said: "We are delighted! We are a volunteer-run store with a mission to put the community at the heart of everything we do.
"We are thrilled that the judges have seen something special in our business so early in our journey. Now we are excited to see what the next few years bring!
"Even more remarkable is that we have achieved this award in the most difficult of years. Despite everything, the store flourished, supported by the community who came together to provide food and support to the most vulnerable."
Jemma Clifford, co-founder of the Rural Business Awards, said: "The last year has been tough for all rural businesses. Our winners have all shown great determination and have bright futures ahead."
Detling committee member Judith Storr said: "We would never have imagined when we started on this journey four years ago that we would be a national finalist and runner up in our first year of trading.
"Being announced as the second-best rural start up business in the country is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the hard work of all our volunteers.
"In acknowledging our success, we would also like to thank our many financial supporters including the Prince's Countryside Trust, KCC Leader, and the Kent Community Foundation."
The winner of the Best Rural Start-up category was Flintshire-based family-run business Accessibility Holiday Escapes.
