Buckinghamshire retailer Paul Fisher has made a deal with Sainsbury’s in an effort to keep his 100-year old family business running.

The store, which has been described as the last independent supermarket in Gerrards Cross, will be two-thirds occupied by a Sainsbury’s Local while one-third will continue to operate as Fisher’s butchers and delicatessen. Most of Paul’s staff will keep their jobs, either in the butcher’s shop and deli or in the Sainsbury’s Local store.

The store had been under threat for some time due to an influx of competition in the town. As well as a large Tesco Extra and an M&S Simply Food store operating nearby, a large Waitrose opened in the area last year, resulting in a downturn in sales for Fisher’s.

The business has been in Paul’s family since 1912, and Paul said he hoped the deal would keep the tradition alive. “The agreement with Sainsbury’s will allow us to continue trading in the village, which is great news for us and our customers,” he said.

A planning application for the changes to the premises has been submitted and the process is expected be fully completed before the end of the year.