For immediate release

Local food stores in Newtown, Powys, are uniting to launch a home-delivery grocery shopping service.

Titled 'ShopNewtown', the pioneering scheme will allow customers within a 20-mile radius of Newtown to order a range of groceries, either online or over the phone, and have their food delivered to their door.

Online grocery shopping is an emerging sector, with large retailers such as Ocado and Tesco offering similar services. The ShopNewtown scheme however is unique, as the majority of the products are sourced directly from local shops and producers.

The service, which launches in mid-December 2009, is the brainchild of local businessmen Simon Pierce and David Thomas.

Mr. Pierce said: "David's family have a fruit & veg shop in the town centre. They're worried that the impending launch of Tesco will have a massive impact on their business and were looking at ways of diversifying their business.

"David and I run a small web design company and, similarly, we were looking at ways of diversifying our business in the wake of the economic downturn. The idea of ShopNewtown just seemed like a natural fit - an innovative way of offering a simple and convenient shopping experience, whilst also driving trade towards local shops and producers.

Mr. Thomas added: "We conducted a small survey amongst some of the town's shopkeepers, and discovered that all of them were worried about the Tesco launch. It wasn't long before we had a range of shops on-board with the home-shopping idea."

At launch, the scheme will be offering the wares of local shops Peter Jacks (Butcher), Juicy Fruits and Pantry Stores (general groceries), as well as baked goods from Tallerddig Bakery, local eggs, and Welsh milk. It's expected more shops and producers will come on-board in the coming months, to further increase the range of products on offer.

Operating from newly renovated premises in the town centre, ShopNewtown will not only provide an innovative online shopping experience, but also aims to provide a valuable service to some of the more vulnerable members of the community, such as the elderly and less mobile, by allowing people to order their groceries over the phone and have them delivered to their door. All produce will be delivered in a state-of-the-art refrigerated vehicle.

The service will launch in mid-December 2009 at www.ShopNewtown.co.uk - For further information about the service, including details about the coverage area, please call 01686 610 190.