ONE of Grasmere’s most respected and popular businesses has reflected on its long history in the run up for the Special Retailer Award.

Grasmere Gingerbread has been well known in the area since its beginning nearly 170 years ago.

Located at the Church Cottage in the town, the business has been owned and operated by the same family for the last 90 years.

Third generation family owners, Joanne, and Andrew Hunter have run the cottage since 2000 and have also brought their daughter into the running of the business.

She will be the fourth-generation owner of the family.

During their time as owners, Joanne and Andrew have seen business affected by the foot and mouth disease, Covid, lockdown, Storm Desmond, 9/11 and the global recession.

The shop is also currently in the running for the Special Retailer Award and have seen several votes come their way since the process opened.

Joanne said: "We are very hopeful in the run up to the Special Retailer Award. We are a specialist company and we are well known for it.

“We look to promote other local producers and I’m a big ambassador for promotion the region as a whole.

“We have home-made high-quality products which have been going for 169 years. We have a huge customer base and we go worldwide as well.

“For smaller companies who can’t reach that type of market we want to support them as much as we can. It’s for the community and for the region so we all benefit.

“Business support is an important component for us as a company.

“I’m third generation of this business. It’s been in ours for nearly 90 years.

“My husband and I took over in 2000 and we have our daughter coming in now who will one day be fourth generation.

“We have seen a lot of hits to our business over the years. 9/11 shook the American market, so did the petrol strike and foot and mouth for the British markets. Then we had Storm Desmond which was one of the biggest things we’ve been through, and now the Covid lockdown.

“Before lockdown we got prepared when we saw Covid coming more and more apparent on the news.

“We went into preparation mode on how to act. It bought problems such as supply and staff issues but we got through as best we can.

“It was a whole new experience of learning for small businesses on how to act and look after everyone.”