An award-winning fruit and veg shop has expanded into a prime town centre spot.

Austen’s of Rochester has moved into the former Carter’s bric-a-brac and antiques store in the heart of the High Street – a few metres away from the premises where the business started eight years ago.

And already the relocation has proved a winner with more customers coming through the door, according to manageress Kim Forbes.

Mrs Forbes, who has been with the company from the start, said: “This is the best. We have already had more people.

“We are opposite the French Hospital, La Providence, where older people like to just wander across the road.

Run by Andy Austen and his wife Carol, Austen’s prides itself in selling locally-grown and seasonal produce.

Customer care is key to their loyal clientele, who stuck with them during Covid and have continued to support them.

Its free vegetable box delivery service run from a warehouse on Medway City Estate was popular before lockdown, but was boosted after restrictions were lifted with more people preferring to support local independent traders than the larger supermarkets.

Andy gave up his office job in London in corporate sales after 25 years because at the age of 50 he wanted to do something different..

He suffers from food allergies and intolerances and embarking in a career in the retail sector “fitted the bill”.

At the time, Carol was not in the best of health and he said the new venture was a “welcome distraction”.

The couple have always supported Kent farmers and most of their fruit and vegetables are sourced within a 25-mile radius.

Starting off as a greengrocers’, they now offer free-range meat, sourdough bread, cheeses and eggs with the mantra Eat Local; Live Better.

Andy 58, said over the years they have used about 50 farmers from small farms, not the big ones which supply supermarkets.

To ensure maximum freshness they don’t buy bulk but on a daily basis.

Austen’s has won a string of accolades, including the Taste of Kent award for its customer service.