Deli to close after almost four years to move online

A DELICATESSEN is to close next Friday as it owner moves the business online.

Zoë Ferreira, 42, first opened the Henley Larder in Bell Street in October 2020 before moving to bigger premises in Duke Street earlier this year.

Ms Ferreira says by closing the shop she hopes to achieve a better work/life balance. She said: “As a small business owner, you give your heart and soul to your business and, you’re happy to do so because you love it.

“But, for me, I want to be able to have a bit more control over my time and make developments in the business that I know could make it so great. I feel like it is an amazing move for the business. It makes a lot of sense to make this transition to going online as we already have an online store which has been gaining momentum over the years.

Ms Ferreira is planning to pop up at different markets in the area during the year, including the Henley Christmas market in November.

She moved into her current premises in February, initially sharing a unit with eco-shop FourState until it moved out in June citing the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on trading.

Ms Ferreira said the closure encouraged residents to look at independent businesses differently. She said: “You keep beating the drum for the importance of supporting your local independents and using your high street. The classic saying ‘use it or lose it’ is true. It is essential that we keep supporting the small businesses and Henley has such a great community vibe. If we are saturated by big brands, it would really change the look of the town.”

Ms Ferreira, who is married to Andre, 43, who works as a podiatrist, said the cost-of-living crisis has put pressure on businesses to absorb price increases.

She said: “Food costs have absolutely flown through the roof, so it’s been a balancing act to work out how to manage the cost of the produce going up versus what to charge the customers. I’ve done my absolute best, as have many of my small producers, to really suck up a lot of those costs but that is very difficult.” Mrs Ferreira is originally from Remenham and attended Gillotts School and The Henley College. She moved to New York where she “worked in a thousand jobs”, balancing acting work with hospitality.

She also lived in London before deciding to move back to Henley with her husband.

Ms Ferriera said: “My husband’s Portuguese and he fell in love with Henley when we visited and he was very much in favour of living here.

“I’ve always had a soft spot for Henley, and I’m a big fan of Henley Royal Regatta. I think that there’s a really lovely vibe in this town, and we’re very lucky in lots of ways.”