YE Olde Pie and Sausage Shoppe is another winner from last year’s awards which hopes to retain its title as Family Business Of The Year.

The business in Shambles, York, was opened by Rob and Julie Wilson in 2009, after Rob developed repetitive strain injury following a lifetime of heavy work as a slaughterman. Their daughter, Kayleigh, left her job to manage the shop, and subsequently the business has been joined by Julie’s brother-in-law, Andrew Johns, and has been supported by Rob’s brother, David Wilson, who has his own successful butchers in Huntington and has given the family invaluable advice.

Julie said the shop has continued to thrive, with turnover up 50 per cent and profits almost trebling over the last year, and in a recent survey of more than 100 customers, 98 per cent gave them the thumbs-up.

She said: “While it is exceptionally hard work, it is gratifying when customers make the point of writing or emailing in, or even calling at the shop in person, to say how much they enjoyed the sausages, bacon, ham and pies.”

With increasing demand for the produce, including the possibility of offering a mail order service, and space constraints in the tiny shop, the family are considering their next move and eyeing up other members of the family to rope in, said Julie.