Good wholesome food is not just a business for Satwant and Shuba Gill – it's a passion.

And it should be, because the husband and wife team have invested most of their savings in new company Food Halls Delicatessen – a culinary haven of local produce.

The former barn and stable block, on the Woodside Animal Farm site in Slip End, has been refurbished and is completely transformed.
It now boasts handmade shelves laden with tasty treats, many of which are made in Bedfordshire.

Owner Satwant said: "We have injected more than £50,000 to make sure that it was a feel of quality – an organic feel that small community shops would have been like all those years ago.

"To create that feel and look has been very costly but well worth it. We have completely changed our lifestyles for this, because this is what I believe in."

The deli opened in July last year and, although turnover is increasing steadily, the first 12 months have been a learning curve for the couple.

Satwant said: "It's our first year so our first priority is letting people know we are here. We go to a lot of food fairs and fetes in the surrounding villages to let people know we are here."

The couple are also trying to quell the myth that you have to pay entry to the farm to reach the shop – which is not the case.

"This is Woodside Shopping Village now and we are trying to get people to see that we are separate from the farm," said Satwant.

But trade is building gradually and customers are often popping in for a sneaky peek at the shop or to treat themselves to a scrumptious apricot sausage roll or a recyclable bottle of infused chilli oil.

The unique idea of having a farmer's market-style outlet open every day certainly appeals to many local foodies – a fact appreciated by the local tourist board, which has recently asked to add the deli to its list of places to visit in the area.

Satwant said: "Seven days a week you can get your local produce here. It's wholesome, proper food. It's not processed, it's from somebody else who cares about the food as opposed to making huge amounts of money. When I speak to my producers they are really passionate about the food they make."

And the staff in the shop must have the same enthusiasm.

Satwant said: "We've got about three helpers here at the weekends. I'm very choosy though. They've got to believe in the idea – they've got to care."

The idea for the delicatessen came from mum-of-three Satwant's desire to ensure her children, and every child, eats properly.
And she prides herself in providing a service to busy parents by taking the difficulty out of finding good quality food.

Satwant said: "We've done all the work for them. We know it's sourced locally and supporting the economy. We make sure it's authentic, we do all the background work for the customers. If they haven't got time to think about that, we do it for them."

The Gill team focuses on making sure the source of the food they sell is as close to the customer as possible.

"When we first started it was about traditional deli foods from Italy and France, but then we were approached by local producers and we realised it's actually all about that."

Now the couple source as much of their stock as possible from suppliers in Bedfordshire, and currently offer bread from Redbourn Mill, Harvest pies from Astwood, Harpers Food pies from Studham, chillis from a chilli farm in Biggleswade, wine from the county's only vineyard – Warden Abbey, chutnies from Hitchin and Meah's Curry Sauces.

"People travel for miles for those," said Satwant. "They are handmade in Luton."

It is important to the Gills to encourage other local suppliers to add to their shelf offerings and they are keen to welcome other Bedfordshire products in to the fold.

All the locally sourced produce is displayed in a large hamper by the shop's entrance, tagged with the note: "With Love From Bedfordshire".
And Satwant is keen to see the county collection grow.

She said: "We want to let customers know about our Bedfordshire hamper and we are more than happy to add anything to it. We are happy to have any local producers or suppliers. We want to encourage people to use their skills and ideas and make things locally."

>> If you grow vegetables or produce homemade food in Bedfordshire and would like work with Food Halls Delicatessen, call 01582 849182.