Malton Relish is a delicatessen that was established in December 2007 and won an award for Best New Deli in the same year.

Fifteen years later, owner Sophie Legard is still thriving on the Market Place in Malton, now with another award to her name – a Great Taste Award for her fruit cake.

Sophie clearly remembers the day that she established her business.

She said: “It was Tuesday the 12th to be exact. I didn’t want to open on the 13th, silly I know, but we are still here nearly 15 years later so maybe a good move!”

Sophie has always kept the business local and her premises spark nostalgia for her as she used to shop in the place she now owns.

“It’s a great position in town and when I was a child, it was a fantastic toy shop. My brother and I would come every year to spend our Christmas money on farm animals and Lego!”

Sophie has a team around her helping to make her award-winning produce and she values them and their support.

“We try to practise the rule of work to live not live to work. I want everyone to want to come to work and to be happy here. I think it’s really important that I support the staff and it really shows in how they interact with the customers. It’s hard work standing up all day for an eight or 10 hour shift with a smile on your face and a spring in your step.”

Sophie has always loved cooking but found that she had to travel afar for ingredients.

“I thought there must be a gap in the market for a good deli in Malton. There was already one deli in town, but he was more of a bread maker. I wanted to focus more on the main part of meals.”

Sophie credits her tenacity when it comes to her success and the passion for her business keeps her going.

“It’s been hard work creating the business from scratch but I keep reminding myself why I do it. Being a local, and a farmer’s daughter, I wanted to highlight the fantastic food we produce in the area and if we can eat seasonally it is so much more delicious than anything that has been flown half way around the world and kept in cold storage for a week.”

Malton is home for Sophie and she doesn’t plan to grow out of the area that she loves.

“As the years have gone by, I’ve really enjoyed the shop, the challenges seem to change every year and my heart is in Malton so why go elsewhere?”

Sophie also loves being a local business and hopes that Malton Relish will be around for more milestones.

“Hopefully I will still be here in another 15 years time! My staff, the customers, the local area – it’s my happy place, it makes my heart sing!”