WHEELER GATE confectionery store, The Treat Kitchen, has been revealed as the overall winner of Nottingham’s Top Independent Business Competition 2015, organised by the Nottingham Business Improvement District (BID), as part of its month-long campaign to highlight the strength and diversity of independent retail and leisure businesses in the city centre.
The Treat Kitchen has enjoyed huge popularity since its opening earlier this year. Stocking 36 flavours of jelly beans, 88 varieties of gourmet chocolates and with its own on-site fudge kitchen, The Treat Kitchen is the creation of confectionery enthusiasts, Martin and Jess Barnett.
In addition The Cheese Shop on Flying Horse Walk was highly commended in the shops and services category and White Rabbit Teahouse on Bridlesmith Walk was highly commended in the eating, drinking and things to do category.
The results were revealed after a thorough assessment process that involved a 6,800-strong public vote followed by a mystery shopper round to independently assess the ten businesses with the most votes. The final verdict was then reached by a judging panel that consisted of Claire Catlow, deputy editor of the Nottingham Post; Catherine Mayhew from Nottingham City Council; Judy Taft of Nottingham Trent University and Richard Spurr of Notts TV.
Nottingham BID director and owner of independent gift shop, The Tokenhouse, Geoff Williams, said: “Many congratulations to The Treat Kitchen on winning the competition. We have lots of great well established independent businesses in the city centre so there was plenty of competition for the title. As a newcomer – and it’s always great to welcome a new independent business to the city – it means that The Treat Kitchen has done particularly well to win and we wish them continued success.”
“The range and quality of independent high street businesses in the city centre is something that Nottingham should be very proud of,” said Catherine Mayhew, city centre co-ordinator at Nottingham City Council. “It gives shoppers and visitors a unique and interesting experience they won’t get in other places, and by supporting these small businesses they are getting good quality products and services as well as helping to improve the local economy. It is good to see the number of votes cast has increased this year, representing over 260 different businesses.”
“I felt that all the independents that were listed in the top 10 had a lot to offer the customer but The Treat Kitchen stood out for their innovative ideas and excellent customer service,” said Judy Taft of Nottingham Trent University.
“Nottingham’s huge and varied range of independent businesses has given the newspaper much to write about over the years,” said Claire Catlow, deputy editor of the Nottingham Post. “We love to highlight the great work these businesses do in helping to make the city such a great place.
“Choosing the top three was a very difficult task but The Treat Kitchen is a worthy winner – a striking business idea which is clearly a hit with its customers,” she added.
The other businesses that made the top ten in the public vote were Cookie Shake Cafe, MemSaab, Lost City Golf, NKD Waxing, Sutherland and Barnett, Thea Caffea and Zullo and Holland.
