Nisa helps put isolated Norfolk community back on the shopping map with new store

It took years of work by a committee of determined locals in Little Plumstead to oversee the development of the store which is now open for business and being supplied by Nisa Retail.

The Walled Garden Store incorporates a café and offers a range of goods, including chilled and frozen items, as well as many locally sourced products.

The store is housed in a property acquired as part of an agreement between the local council and a housing developer who gifted the community a Victorian walled garden.

A group of locals raised almost £250,000 to fund the project after the village shop closed in 2016. They also received support from the Plunkett Foundation which helps rural communities facing difficult times when village stores close.

The committee organised the construction of a modular building, decorated the interior, restored part of the land, and recently recruited a manager and two supervisors who will be supported running the store by local volunteers.

Nisa is now delivering one ambient and three freeze and chill orders every week as locals make the most of having a store on their doorstep.

Retail director Bronwen Barnes said: “I think we are going to be lots of things to lots of people and I think, because the shop is the result of them coming together for their community, they will be loyal and make use of the facility.”