Third Palmer and Harvey Retailer of the Month winner announced

Village News community store in Lancashire has been named Palmer and Harvey’s third Retailer of the Month.

The shop is a truly independent hub of the community in Freckleton, Lancashire, serving as a key resource and meeting place for local people after many other local amenities have disappeared.

Run by St.john Greenhough and his wife, Jane, Village News has been a Palmer and Harvey customer for the past eight years. In that time, the couple have expanded their store to meet the needs of the local community, including installing a cash machine and setting up an alcohol offering through Palmer and Harvey’s CPL Training partnership.

Credited for its community and local and national charity work, Village News holds regularly fundraising activities including the Poppy Appeal and Children in Need events. They recently raised hundreds of pounds for Children in Need, by dressing up as Mary Poppins and Mr. Banks and collecting donations in store. St.john is currently governor at a local school and was previously chairman of the parish council.

The Retail Club member store is run by a small team, including a local pensioner, and they employ young people to do the daily newspaper deliveries.

Designed to recognise and reward rising stars in independent retail, winners of the Retailer of the Month scheme receive free 90 outers from Palmer and Harvey’s Independent Brand Range.

Village News are already avid fans of the Palmer and Harvey Independent Range and products have proved popular among the local community.

St.john, store manager, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to win this Retailer of the Month award, it is a great boost for the store and the local area.

“I’m looking forward to hopefully receiving some new Independent Range products to expand the existing range, which I can trial in store. The lead up to Christmas is the perfect time to introduce some new lines. ”

Rory Brick, head of channel development at Palmer and Harvey said: “Not only do Village News provide the local community with much needed products and resources, St.John and Jane continue to help in the local area, including charity fundraisers and community work. We look forward to supporting them with their continued success.”

The Retailer of the Month initiative has been set up as part of Palmer and Harvey’s 90^th birthday plans to promote independent retailers who have embraced innovative techniques in store and who routinely lead the way with industry best practice.