Stratford bistro and deli set for growth after support

A family-run Stratford bistro and deli that stocks authentic Italian delicacies and everyday food imported directly from Italy is bringing back its popular Christmas range.

Marco’s Italian Deli’s Christmas range is set to return after a successful launch last year, and Tony English, partner at Marco’s Italian Deli has thanked the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce for its support which helped to inspire its new product line.

Limited to takeaway service only during the pandemic, Marco’s, which is run by Tony and his son-in-law Marco, joined the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber in search of support on how the business could rise to the challenges faced by the hospitality industry.

Working with Chamber Business Advisor Marie Stephenson, and using Marco’s lifetime knowledge of the Italian food industry, the business expanded its range of Italian food products to boost its retail options, setting it apart from competitors and making it a destination for foodies and avid home cooks in the region, as well as attracting more corporate clients.

Marco’s Christmas hamper and panettone ranges proved extremely popular with local businesses and locals last year, and they are set to return to the Stratford town centre business, which has been in operation since 1991.

By dealing directly with producers in Italy and making use of Marco’s connections, the business has been able to oversee a huge expansion with more than 150 new products lining the shelves – from rare varieties of pasta to high-quality sauces, and authentic panettone – to the delight of Stratford locals.

Marie also helped the business to boost its online and social media presence and take advantage of local marketing opportunities to successfully raise its profile.

Tony accessed the support through the Accelerated Growth programme, which forms part of the Coventry & Warwickshire Business Support Programme which is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

He said: “The support from Marie and the Chamber has been fantastic and proved really helpful at a very uncertain time for our business.

“Marie really got to know us as a business and this helped us to make informed choices of where to invest in new product lines that were not available from other retailers.

“Once we’d done that, the Chamber support helped us to grow our customer base through marketing and growing our online presence.

“Since we diversified and boosted our range, which includes authentic Italian panettone and our special Christmas hampers, as well as the finest pasta, oils, vinegars and sauces, our corporate sales have increased massively which helped the business to survive.

“We have a hugely talented team here as well as being a family business, so to have our bistro up and running again as well as our expanded product line is very exciting, and we hope to keep meeting people from across the region and sharing great food with them.”

Marie said: “Marco’s is a very special business that has been operating in the region for more than three decades, and it is a privilege to be able to support Tony and his team.

“As a lover of Italian food, it is great to be able to find things I can usually only find on holiday in Italy at a very reasonable price in a place that is so friendly and has a real family feel. From a business perspective, it’s superb that they continue to be successful and rise to new challenges while retaining these values.

“When supporting a business such as Marco’s, it’s vital to understand what makes them unique and to then work with them to build on that and help them to grow.”