Buxton cafe Black Salt open less than a year wins at Good Food Awards

Black Salt on Market Street in Buxton is an alternative style eatery serving up loaded sandwiches, cakes and coffee and now the hard work of owners Abi Gregory and Jake Dean has paid off and they have a Blue Ribbon Award from the Good Food Awards.

Abi said: “To achieve a food award within our first year of opening is something we’re incredibly proud of.

“We put so much passion into what we do, from developing our menu to making everything as fresh as possible, so to have that recognised by our customers makes all the hard work worthwhile. “We honestly couldn’t be more grateful.”

Since the shop opened the duo, who have been together for a decade, said it has been ‘absolutely non stop’

Jake said: “We’ve made thousands upon thousands of sandwiches, and we’ve somehow managed to outgrow our little shop far quicker than we ever imagined.

“From day one, we’ve been selling out, and incredibly, we’re still doing so now.

“We’ve increased our stock and production capabilities as much as our current premises allow, but the demand continues to grow.

“We want to keep Black Salt fresh, exciting and different.

“We never want to become a place that just serves the same old thing. We want people to come through our doors and try something they can’t get anywhere else.”

Team work and being part of the community is important to the Black Salt ethos and Abi said: “We’ve also recently started collaborating with other local businesses, which has been a brilliant experience.

“Supporting one another and bringing different businesses together is such a positive thing for Buxton, and we’re really excited to do more of it.”

Speaking about the award Abi said: “We entered the competition, then selected businesses get chosen and then the customers vote and based on the votes you get put in the finals.

“We’re so grateful for the amazing customers who walk through our doors every day and for everyone who took the time to vote for us.

“As a small, independent business, that kind of support means everything.”

Jake, 26, agreed and said: “We wouldn’t be where we are today without our customers and the community around us.

“Every person who comes in, recommends us to a friend or supports what we’re trying to build plays a part in our journey, and we’re incredibly thankful for that.”

Looking to the future now they have outgrown their shop and the hunt is on to find a new shop

Abi, 25, said: “We want to create a space where people can sit in, enjoy their food and really experience what we’re about.

“A bigger premises would also allow us to push our menu even further, introduce more crazy and creative food ideas, open more days and extend our opening hours.

“At the moment, we’re working within the limitations of a very small shop, so the thought of having more space to experiment, create and grow is incredibly exciting.”

Jake added: “Ultimately, we want to keep building Black Salt into something special while staying true to what got us here; great food, creativity and a genuine passion for what we do.”