Couple hope green grocer’s bears fruit

IT IS a fruit and vegetable store that has become a familiar feature on the high street of a market town in North Yorkshire.

But when Julie Cawood and Chris Thompson announced their imminent retirement, from The Fruit Basket, there was concern the future of the shop, which had been in Boroughbridge for 21 years, could be in jeopardy.

Now local couple Sharon Longcroft and Hugh Fink have stepped in and acquired the business, becoming the new faces behind the Fruit Basket counter.

“Boroughbridge is remarkable in that the town centre is occupied almost exclusively by small, independent retailers and, when we heard the Fruit Basket was on the market, our first thought was that it would be a shame if one of the most iconic ones was to disappear,” said Mr Fink, who has a background in engineering.

“Over a few weeks, that grew into a more personal interest until, eventually, we went to see Chris and Julie to ask more about the sale – and that was it; suddenly, we were in the  running as potential buyers,” he added.

The Fruit Basket will also become part of the Love Boroughbridge cooperative, launched last month by the traders to promote the town as a retail destination. The couple say it is hard for small independent retailers to be heard and they hope the campaign will give local traders a voice.