ABOUT US
THE WAY IT SHOULD BE
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Drew & Nikki Wilkinson founded the company in 1999 with the simple idea of sourcing only the best, naturally produced ingredients to cook with.
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At the Deli we combine high-quality fresh produce + artisan ingredients with a smart new grocery store and a relaxed, reliable shopping experience for our community.
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Our passion for excellence, authenticity + quality has driven us from the very beginning, and continues to drive us into the future. We know that every product counts from the way it is made, to the way it tastes. We strive to make the entire shopping experience as rewarding as possible.
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Our cafe-bistro closed in March 2020 to help 'flatten the curve' during the pandemic and has remained closed because our retail shop has since gone from strength to strength. So we arrive 360' back at the business we began back in 1999 only much larger... Shelford Deli, the independent Speciality Grocery Store. We don’t tolerate short cuts, won’t compromise on taste or be led by price. Check it out for yourself!
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how we began
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Drew Wilkinson, a Michelin star restaurant chef had worked worldwide, and Nikki Wallman, a TEFL teacher with a Fine Arts Degree in Sculpture, first met when they were in their early twenties. They spent a year in Australia working in café restaurants & exploring the Pacific Rim Fusion scene happening there. On return to hometown Cambridge, England they noticed a distinct lack of ingredients and food creativity on the UK high street. It was difficult to buy modern day staples such as chorizo – and so, the challenge was set; Shelford Delicatessen was launched with the simple idea of sourcing only the best natural ingredients and cooking with them.
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Starting in a tiny shop, with Drew cooking their own style of rustic, continental influenced café-restaurant foods to sell, and Nikki behind the counter, the business went from strength to strength. They developed a range of products & services which rapidly received local and national acclaim; including artisan delicacies, produce, cakes, salads, soups, dinner dishes and more. In 2010 that little shop was extended into the much bigger, wholesome premises; including a new sit-down café-bistro, larger kitchens and a café garden.
Food has come a long way in the UK since 1999, we are really proud to have been a part of that development.
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Awards & Nominations:
50 Top Best Deli's in UK
The Independent, Food + Drink Magasine
