A STALBRIDGE store has been named family-owned supermarket of the year.

Independent superstore Dike & Son received national recognition for its work in the community at the 2023 Retail Industry Awards.

The shop was crowned Independent Community Retailer of the Year at a gala dinner in London on September 19.

Judges said they were “overwhelmed with the store’s generosity” in helping community good causes.

“This store regularly helps local charities and events by providing fundraising items on a sale-or-return basis,” they said.

“It offers advice to fundraisers and will often loan out its chilled van, freezers, coffee machines, barbecues and catering equipment to make sure fundraising days go smoothly.

“As a Nisa member, Dike & Son is able to support local causes through Nisa’s charity, Making a Difference Locally, which raises money through the sale of own-label products in-store.

“Since MADL was formed in 2008, Dike & Son has donated more than £92,000 to 83 local causes, including animal sanctuaries, Scout groups, youth clubs, hospices and schools.

“Our judges were overwhelmed by the store’s generosity, saying: ‘It is an integral part of a tight community that forges loyalty by giving back. A truly impressive store’.”

The Countrymen Club, which is based at Future Roots Care Farm in Holnest, celebrating a recent windfall of £1,000 from the Dike & Son MADL charity fund

As well as its help for good causes, Dike & Son supports the community in other ways, including providing space on its shelves for more than 150 local growers, makers, bakers and suppliers and sponsoring local events such as The Oak Fair.

It also helps out with smaller gestures, such as making its electric vehicle charging spaces available for use by the local community and hosting a defibrillator.

Managing director, Andy Dike, said: “Our family has been at the heart of this community since my great, great grandfather Harold Dike first started his grocery delivery business here in Stalbridge in 1851.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to receive this very special award in recognition of our work within the community.”

Store manager Adam Vincent, who received the award on behalf of the store, said: “We’d also like to thank our generous customers for helping to raise this money through our Making a Difference Locally fund, and also to recognise the energetic fundraisers within our community who work so hard to make this a more vibrant and cohesive place to live.”