A flippant remark during tea break led to a new, bespoke delicatessen catering for vegans, vegetarians and meat eaters, being opened up this week.

Felixstowe Fine Foods and Deli came about as owner Hannah Branch and her right hand an Ian Cockburn were relaxing after a hectic morning at the fishmongers next door.

"We start early and by the time we have processed the pub orders and got them out we need a break," Ian explained: "It is a sprint, a race to get the vans out because the chefs are waiting and want their fish on time.

"We were sat out the back knackered, having a bit of a break, staring through the window of what used to be a solicitors' office and we jokingly said 'wouldn't that be nice if it was a deli'. That was last year and here we are now, which is really exciting.

"Hannah is great boss to work for and it was her vision. Between all of us, we have made it happen.

"We hope we have got it right and people will support us."

Hannah's dream became a reality when they opened, along with many other shops and business in the town on Monday morning, and trade was brisk as perused the stacked shelves and bought from a wide selection of Suffolk hams, cheeses, organic juices, the list goes on and the pictures tell you more of the story.

There is a huge selection for vegans and vegetarian along with traditional meat products, but Fine Foods is open to fresh ideas and feedback has been positive and informative.

Ian said: "It has been lovely taking to local people finding's out what they want. We have ordered a lot of things we feel people will like and the shelves are well sticked but it is important we listen to our customers and that is what we have been doing.

"When we do our next lot of ordering we will include the customer feedback and bring in other things."

Starting a new venture is difficult at the best of times and pulling everything together during a Covid-19 has made it all the more challenging as the duo found out.

"Lockdown has made it difficult in terms of getting ready," said Ian. "The biggest thing was not being able to actually see, or touch, what we wanted to bring into the shop to fit it out.

"We wanted to being in a rustic look with the racking and had to order wit online, which is fine, but you want to be able feel it and know it is right.

"Social distancing obviously meant being careful about tradesmen coming into do work, but we got there.

"It also means fewer people in the shop but they have been great about that and have waited."

Ian also believes peoples shopping habits will change with fewer people returning to the town centre for a while, but they have plans in place.

He said: "Hannah still runs the fishmongers which has continued to do well.

"What we will do is have two separate websites where people can order for home deliveries. We have learned there are still many people shielding and some who now prefer to have it delivered.

"One of the things we have been doing for the community is delivering fish to those self-isolating and we have done that free of charge because those customers have always supported us and we wanted to support them.

"People seem to feel safer in smaller places like ours, especially for those with underlying conditions, they seem to feel more comfortable waiting outside era only coming in when there are just a couple more people in the shop.

"Shopping local is even more important now than before, so I hope people do come to us smaller, independent shops."

Backing from the town council and other bodies has been encouraging and Hannah and Ian are excited by the challenge and hopeful they can ride out this period of uncertainty and prove successful.

"The town council, Felixstowe Forward have been supportive and will promote us along with other small businesses," said Ian. "As for customers, there seems to be na increase in traffic and hopefully those people will come in and like what we have to offer.

"Overall people have supported us and long may that continue."

Link here to read how Felixstowe and Walton reawakened as lockdown was eased further.