Sages of food give prize to Thyme Out (From Penarth Times)

Sages of food give prize to Thyme Out

A DINAS Powys business woman has won a top accolade from the True Taste awards.

Rachel Lewis opened her thriving delicatessen, called Thyme Out, on Elm Grove Road, 18 months ago.

The mum-of-two decided when she reached 40 it was time for her to open her own business. Her children were more grown-up and she had more time.

She said: 'I think when I hit 40 my decision to open the deli was my midlife crisis. I run the business with my husband David.

'The whole idea came about while I was walking around Dinas Powys with my children. I thought to myself that the village needed something extra. The deli was a perfect choice for the area.

'I am over the moon to get this award. When I opened the shop I had no idea what it would be like to run the business. I am really happy that we have won this award.

'I was terrified when I went on the television.'

The shop won Gold in the retail category and fought off strong competition from businesses who were longer established than Thyme Out.

Rachel has lived in Dinas Powys for 18 years and said: 'I did not have any expectations of how successful the business would be when we first opened it.'

The delicatessen offers many Welsh, local and organic foods, hampers, home-cooked lasagne, salad bowls and many more different food stuffs.

She said: 'It is great for our shop to get all this publicity. We are still in shock that we have won the award. It is a still sinking in.

'We were even more surprised because we sent the form in on the last day for entries.'

The competition was judged by some of Britain's top culinary experts, including top chefs and leading figures in the food retail business.