Candover Valley Community Store celebrating fifth birthday

Over the last five years, the Candover Valley Community Store has grown into a successful business and a vibrant hub for valley residents who value being able to shop locally.

The community-run store and Post Office is popular with passing commuters and tradespeople, as well as cyclists and walkers who stop for refreshment in beautiful rural surroundings.

The turnover of the store is expected to exceed half a million pounds in the current financial year.

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The brilliant people behind the store (Image: Candover Valley Community Store)

“We are delighted that our community store has become so much more than the shop and post office we opened five years ago,” said Jane Laws, chair of the Candover Valley Community Store committee.

“It has become a true community hub where you can buy groceries and post parcels and also see friendly faces. The coffee area and decking overlooking the tennis courts and vineyard has become a place to meet and have a chat, which is so important where rural isolation can be a problem.

"We have a great team of staff, youth workers and volunteers and we all enjoy working together to help our customers and give something back to our community.”

A bank of up to 40 tireless volunteers keeps the store open and well maintained seven days a week, 363 days of the year.

The volunteers work in shifts alongside experienced manager, Garry Green, and a team of four paid part-time duty managers.

Garry has been at the helm since 2019, skillfully steering it through the Covid era, ensuring that nothing ever ran out, including toilet rolls, flour and eggs. 

Supporting local businesses is at the heart of the Candover Valley Store’s ethos. It is proud to be a member of Hampshire Fare and to stock local products such as Moon Roast coffee, ChalkStream trout, Hampshire Cheese Company cheeses, Hydes Cyder and Summerdown mints, as well as sparkling wines from Hattingley Valley, The Grange and Candover Brook. Other items from smaller producers in the valley, like Bradley Orchard jams, jellies and apple juice, Tim’s honey and Max’s preserves are best sellers. 

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The Candover Valley Store has also established a community fund to help support local organisations and improve the places and spaces that matter to members of the community. 

In an initiative begun last year, a group of gardening volunteers are also using an available plot in Preston Candover to grow flowers, vegetables and herbs for the store. The freshly picked, seasonally-available produce boasts zero food miles.

The store also provides paid work for young people in a rural area where opportunities are limited.  Young people, employed to cover the weekend shifts, gain valuable work experience at the store. The youth workers have all said how interacting with colleagues and customers has improved their confidence and social skills.