A family-run delicatessen in the market town of Helmsley, Yorkshire, has been named Britain’s Best Small Shop in a competition organised by MPs.

Hunters of Helmsley yesterday won the Best Small Shops Competition, which celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit and community ethos of independent retailers.

One of the runners up was Nisa Toddington, Bedfordshire, which was named community retailer of the year at the Convenience Retail Awards 2014.

The other runner up was the Mainstreet Trading Company, a bookshop and café in the Scottish borders.

Simon Danczuk MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Small Shops, which organised the competition, said: “Small shops really are the backbone of Britain, providing essential services for local people and creating jobs in their communities. I think it is right that Parliament acknowledges the vital role small shops play and seeks to recognise and reward the very best small shops across the country.

“Smaller retailers are often hugely influential in their local areas and provide the anchors for communities up and down the country. Small retailers have a connection with their customers that is much more personal and valuable than big chain shops, and I know many people really value this connection.”

The judging of the Best Small Shops Competition took place in earlier February 2015 and was based on the shop’s entrepreneurial activities, working with the community and innovation in their business. It was sponsored by PayPoint and Tictail.

Andrew Goddard, retail director at PayPoint, said: “Hunters of Helmsley is a fantastic example of a small, family-run shop that’s everything that’s best in retailing, from its support for local producers to the attention given to every detail of the product range, merchandising and commitment to offering customers the best food and drink the world has to offer. Chris and Christine Garnett, along with all their staff, are worthy winners of this award.”

The Convenience Retail Awards, which celebrates the best of the UK’s convenience industry, will be held in London on March 19.