A TOWN centre business has achieved hundreds of five-star reviews for their "unique" service and a knack for adapting to changing circumstances.
Opening as a Health Kitchen-come-Juice Bar on Bridge Street in 2017, the team at Vigour Kitchen are no strangers to shifting trends and transitioning the business.
Created as a healthy alternative to fast food in the town centre, childhood friends Scott Anderson, Anthony Georgiou and Chris Heyes quickly began to feel that the health food industry was saturated and provided limited opportunities for growth.
Looking into shifting consumer trends and what customers were travelling out of town for, the business diversified into a "neighbourhood kitchen" which offers a unique service to the people of St Helens.
While still offering the health foods that kickstarted the business, the Sutton-based trio expanded their menu, adopted a small plate focus and branched out to become a licensed bar.
Essentially, Vigour aims to provide a relaxed and casual dining experience for all customers and create a "city centre vibe" in the centre of St Helens.
With an eye for shifting trends, Scott and Anthony explained that the pandemic was yet another opportunity for the business to diversify and attract a new clientele.
Scott said: “There has definitely been a transition in people’s spending habits since the pandemic, and things still haven’t gone back to normal again.
“I don’t think this is just in St Helens, but in society as a whole, as less people seem to be coming in to spend money but there is an increase in delivery services.”
The business adapted as a delivery service during the pandemic as well as increasing their presence on social media and online food outlets like Just Eat and Deliveroo.
After working through the pandemic with a focus on local produce and local people, the trio believe they are on the right side of a positive shift towards supporting local, independent businesses.
Scott added: “There does seem to be a positive shift towards support for independent businesses.
“We’re competing with big brands but I think we’ve found our niche now, and people are travelling here from across St Helens and from out of town – and this is something I’m really proud of.”
Aware of the difficulties that the pandemic has brought to an already struggling high street, the team at Vigour feel that their independent business model that “appreciates and cares” for the local community is something that will solidify their presence in St Helens - and something that the town centre “has to strive for” in order to sustain its future.
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