THE owner of an Oswestry town centre business has thanked customers for their support after his staff won an award for their delivery services.

Rob Wolstenholme, of Gillhams Deli in Church Street, has been overwhelmed with the support the business has received during the pandemic, which has led to it being named as the best delivery service in Oswestry by Restaurant Guru.

Gillhams launched its delivery service last April after the initial Covid-19 lockdown, and it proved to be popular among customers across the town.

Receiving the award has given the team at Gillhams a morale boost, Rob said.

“We’re over the moon to get some kind of recognition – as a team we’ve worked tirelessly since last April,” he said.

“We had to completely diversify by launching our home delivery service then. We were out and around Oswestry back then and it has continued ever since.

“As and when the lockdown finished, we did contemplate maybe stopping the home deliveries, but our customers got us through our worst time so we have continued that for them and still do so every Tuesday.

“It’s nice for the team to receive the award.”

Restaurant Guru contacted Gillhams to find out more about the services it offers and believed its efforts were deserved of the award.

Rob added: “When we launched the delivery service last year, I was isolating initially. My general manager Harry and Abbie put their heads together with the deli manager Michelle, and they were brilliant.

“We’ve only been delivering for less than a year, and it has been a massive change to the business.

“We were contemplating shutting the doors initially when it all kicked off, but our initial objective was to keep money coming in.

“I remember going on my first delivery to an elderly gentleman, and I remember thinking that we were really providing a service and we are actually a lifeline for some people.

“Especially during the first lockdown when some people were often scared about having to leave their house.”

Rob added that it has been overwhelming to see the support from customers, and insists everyone at Gillhams is grateful.

He said: “We’re just overwhelmed by the response we’ve received from our customers. We’re very aware the customers are the core of any business.

“Without them, there wouldn’t be a Gillhams. We’re just so grateful.

“We owe everything to our customers for what they have done for us.”