AN award-winning refill shop in Fordingbridge is celebrating a year at its new location.

The Green Gram moved to a new premises in the High Street last year, having previously been located in Roman Quay.

Jo Anderson, manager at The Green Gram, said the relocation was “definitely the right move", with the business seeing an increase in turnover of around 40 per cent, as well as greater visibility and new customers visiting each week.

Jo Anderson, manager at The Green Gram, said: “We have increased from four volunteers a day to up to eight on busy days and we’ve increased the number of volunteers working in the shop overall to 50, with a couple more in training.

"We also have young volunteers doing Duke of Edinburgh and school-work experience, so we usually have two young people helping on a Saturday now too.”

The Green Gram is still working with local suppliers, and even more than before the move.

It now supplies Jocasta’s Fudge, which is made in Fordingbridge, and works with Forest Edge Roasting Co in Lyndhurst and Wimborne Coffee Roasters for its coffee beans, which can now be ground to order.

The shop is also stocking rapeseed oil refills from The Magnificent Seed in Shrewton near Salisbury and greetings cards by Fordingbridge-based artists Kathryn Coyle aka Little Red Boots and May Summers Perkins.

Additionally, members of Avon Valley Shed have produced wood turned items, which are displayed in the shop and are available in exchange for a donation to the charity.

The Green Gram’s expanded space has enabled it to increase the range of products on offer, with more flours, organic oats, oils and vinegars, lots of sweet and savoury snacks, natural cleaning products and new toiletries and household items.

As well as the shop, the organisation has expanded its outreach programme, working with local uniformed groups including The Boys’ Brigade, Scouts and Guides, and has run two holiday activities funded by Fordingbridge Rotary Club.

Jo added: “It’s been a busy and amazing year for us, and we are looking forward to what’s next. We’ll be open for the Christmas lights switch on for those people who haven’t found us yet and for those who want to come and say hello.

"We are also offering extended opening hours on Saturdays from 9am to 4pm throughout November and December”.