Ulverston grocer to shut up shop after taking over 5 years ago

Brocklebank's Of Ulverston announced on Monday that their last day of trade would be on Thursday, September 5.

Amy Hemelryk, 35, started working there at the age of 14 as an after-school job. 

In 2019, when her boss Wray Brocklebank retired, she decided to buy the business which she has been running ever since.

READ MORE HERE: Grocer to shut up shop and retire after more than 40 years

She said: "I love my job. I love the customers. I love everything about it.

"The shop is so friendly and welcoming. It is a fantastic environment to work in. We have got some of the best customers in the world and a lot of them have become friends rather than just customers. 

"You learn people's lifestyles, about people's families - it really is the customers who make the job."

Now, five years after taking over the greengrocers, Amy said the decision to close was due to no longer being able to battle the 'big chains' and due to personal reasons.

Fruits, vegetables and plants outside the shop (Image: Submitted)

"On the wholesale side, we are battling the big chains that are under-cutting prices and then in the shop, we are battling against the supermarkets because they are under-cutting prices as well," she said.

"We always had the motto that we could never be the cheapest but we could always make sure we did the freshest and best quality.

"I am working 18 hours per day. I start at 5 in the morning and I finish at 10.30 at night. They are very long hours and my little girl is 9. I have missed so much of her life already and because it is not bringing the money in it should be it is not worth doing."

Customers have also expressed their sadness after the shutting down announcement.

"It is so emotional in the shop at the moment. We are absolutely gutted that we are leaving it is not something we wanted to do and we are going to miss everybody so much," said Amy.