Greengrocers opens newer bigger shop in Lee-on-the-Solent to keep up with demand for fresh fruit and veg

Independent greengrocers Lee Fruit and Veg has expanded into a new unit on Lee-on-the-Solent high street after an increase in custom since the start of lockdown.

Business owner Karen Jones set up the fruit and veg business when the previous greengrocer shop All Seasons Fruiterers closed in 2018 when its owner Peter Patterson retired after more than 30 years in business.

After having legal complications taking over the former greengrocer’s premises, which is still empty, Karen moved into an empty unit that she already owned at the other end of the high street.

She said: ‘It was a challenge opening up but I like a challenge and I wanted to serve the community. It’s important that people have somewhere independent and local to go and get fresh fruit and veg rather than just having the option to go to big supermarkets.’

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Now, with business booming, Karen said she needed to expand and she has moved again, into the newer bigger shop, three doors down.

She said the extra space will accommodate more customers in the store at one time and will house more products, such as jams, chutneys, nuts and seeds and biscuits.

The unit was renovated by Gosport-based construction firm Gibbons Property Services - as Karen wanted to support other local independent firms.

The shop was officially opened on Thursday with Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage cutting the ribbon.

Karen, who is also from Lee-on-the-Solent, said she is planning on introducing a plastic-free ‘help yourself’ feature in the shop, where customers can bring their own containers and fill them up with products in a bid to reduce plastic use and be more eco-friendly.

She said: ‘Hopefully we can get it completely plastic free and do our bit to help the environment.

‘I have a great team that works with me and it has been great to support other local businesses, which I definitely think is important in these times.

‘It’s also been great to see how many people have been shopping local over the last few months.’

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