Hills and Parkes

London

A shared love of food and a dream to run their own deli saw two south London mums, Emma Ring and Jacqui Roper, take their playground conversations to the next level in 2010. Having got the green light from the local authorities, they bought a market stall in the neighbourhood of Honor Oak Park, where they began selling home cooking and speciality bread. Their customer following grew, paving the way a year later for them to open a shop on the high street. More than four years on, a close connection with the community keeps loyal customers coming back.

Long-standing fans regularly drop by for homemade soups, sausage rolls and scotch eggs that Emma and Jacqui whip up in the kitchen. Speciality groceries include best-selling St John and Dolly Smith’s Brinjal Pickle and
LittlePod natural vanilla paste, which fill the ceiling-height white shelves of the bright shop. In the centre is a wooden table laden with tempting homemade cakes. Always on the lookout for new products, Emma and Jacqui often start their search close to home, sourcing honey from local beekeepers and fresh pasta from Ealing’s La Tua. A recent tie-in with Bridget Hugo, co-founder of the trendy Franco Manca pizza chain, led to Hills & Parkes selling sourdough loaves from her Brixton bakery.

Making the most of the goodwill they have earned, the pair keep customers up to date with news of seasonal events via Facebook and Twitter. On offer are workshops for children and gift ideas to spoil fellow mums come Mother’s Day. HR.