Food life begins at 40 for award winning store

40 North,  in west Lewis, the Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards Independent Retailer of the Year for 2013.
40 North, in west Lewis, the Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards Independent Retailer of the Year for 2013.

THE Isle of Lewis has a new food retail hero.

Grocery store and deli 40 North, in the west of the island, was named Independent Retailer of the Year at the Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards.
Owners Bruce Armitage and Anne Campbell beat five other businesses to take the title for the store, which has been open for just over two years.
40 North specialises in produce made on-site from locally sourced ingredients. Pies, smoked and cured meats, ready meals such as curries, pasta, pizza and desserts form part of its extensive menu.
The award was unexpected: “It surprised us enough that we were shortlisted let alone winning the thing,” Bruce said.
“We’re in the middle of nowhere and we’re very small. But maybe they saw it as an advantage because we’ve made a successful business.”
40 North began in July 2011 after Bruce and Anne spent some time deciding what to do with the vacant croft.
“We decided to open a shop and food production business because there was nothing like this nearby. We wouldn’t be in competition with anybody.”