Monday, February 22, 2016

News: True taste of Thai lands in Rotherham town centre

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The differentiated retail offer in Rotherham town centre now has an authentic Thai and Oriental flavour with the opening of a new independent food store.

Owned and managed by husband and wife team Stephen and Pasuta Gough, Ahan Dee Thai and Oriental Foods is the only specialist shop in the borough to offer south east Asian groceries and produce.

Part of a complex of mixed-used retail outlets focusing on listed buildings on the High Street, the new store has taken over the unit that was vacated when clothing store, Things That Boys Like moved into bigger premises nearby.

Opening at the end of 2015, Ahan Dee translates from Thai into English as "good food." It has always been the intention of the owner to establish a shop that provides good Thai and Oriental food at competitive and honest price, in keeping with her Buddhist beliefs.

The new retail store stocks everything from exotic fresh fruit and vegetables to ginger tea and even catfish.

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In line with the aim of other local retailers to offer something different and provide a personal service that can't be matched online, the team at Ahan Dee plan to use their wealth of knowledge and expertise to advise customers on the best ingredients needed to prepare authentic dishes.

Owner Pasuta said: "We are thrilled to be launching our new store in the award winning Rotherham town centre. This is a wonderful opportunity and we are delighted to be bringing a taste of the Orient to the High Street."

Martyn Benson, start-up business advisor at Rotherham Investment and Development Office (RiDO), who assisted Ahan Dee, said: "We were pleased to support Stephen and Pasuta as part of the RiDO "Ready for Business" start-up project and look forward to seeing the business grow."

Rotherham town centre was named as a Portas Pilot by the Government in 2012 and compiled a pot of £350,000 to support the Council and its town team partners in realising its vision to create a vibrant and thriving town centre with a different retail offer by fostering new, independent businesses. As well as supporting new independent retailers, funding was set aside to support existing town centre retailers to help them undertake significant business development projects.

In November, Rotherham was successful in the best town centre category in the Great British High Streets Awards, a Government-backed competition to find and celebrate the nation's best high streets, recognising the support for start-up businesses.

Cllr. Denise Lelliott, Advisory Cabinet Member for Housing and the Local Economy at Rotherham Council, added: "The Great British High Street judges specifically commented on our differentiated shopping offer so we are delighted to welcome a specialist business like Ahan Dee to the town centre and see our independent retailers go from strength to strength. We wish Ahan Dee every success in the future."

Ahan Dee Facebook page
RiDO website

Images: Ahan Dee / Facebook

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