An award-winning Gloucestershire smokery has launched a telephone and online supermarketn and a nationwide delivery service, in a bid to keep supplying its retail customers.

With the ongoing coronavirus outbreak set to be with us for some time, Severn & Wye Smokery is offering a call-or-click-and-collect and nationwide delivery service of its smoked fish and other grocery and deli products.

Ordinarily, the Forest of Dean-based smokery sells its produce on-site and supplies high-end establishments including Harrods, Fortnum & Mason, The Ritz and Claridge's. Now the smokery is offering a 'call and collect' service and a nationwide delivery service, following a successful trial period delivering locally.

Richard Cook of Severn & Wye Smokery, said: "Whilst from a business perspective, the easiest thing at this present time would be to temporarily close the shop, we feel that we have an onus of responsibility to supply not only our own products but also a range of other essential products to customers, especially when they are experiencing difficulties with shopping at supermarkets and accessing other online services.

"We have been encouraged by the response of our customers and are now looking to roll the service out to support a wider area by welcoming orders from all over the UK and Ireland. We hope that by doing so we can help customers get the provisions they need, whilst easing the unprecedented pressure on larger retailers who may be struggling to meet demands for national delivery services and ongoing product shortages. We're looking to take something positive out of the ongoing crisis, with a view to planning for the future.

"At present, our fish market, deli and food hall are still open for business, with people able to come in and purchase produce, as long as they comply with the social distancing guidelines. For ease of pick-up and to reduce time spent in the food hall, if desired, customers can call ahead to place their order. We will then be happy to package everything together, ready for a pre-agreed collection time. We're looking forward to helping our customers get the items they need, easing the burden on wider food suppliers."