A former chef and housekeeping manager have fulfilled their lifelong ambition by opening an artisan delicatessen in London after securing a loan of £20,000 from HSBC UK.
Colin Clegg and Andreas Giraldo used the funding to lease a 110 sq.m. property on Devonshire Road in Chiswick to launch the Old Town Deli. The support from HSBC UK also facilitated the setup costs of the store, including display refrigeration, coffee machine and the purchase of initial supplies, ensuring the deli was ready to open within 2 months of moving into the premises. Additionally, the funding allowed the deli to take on one full time and three part time members of staff.
The pair previously worked together for several years before they were made redundant amidst the pandemic in September 2020. They decided to take their unemployment as an opportunity to fulfil their lifelong dream of becoming business owners.
Since the store’s launch, it has successfully embedded itself within the Chiswick community, offering a variety of artisanal craft products from local suppliers, as well as serving in-house cooked meals.
Colin Clegg, Director of Old Town Deli, said: “Opening our deli amidst the pandemic has been a challenging endeavor and certainly would not have been possible without the continued support of HSBC UK and our relationship manager Raj Singh. We’re passionate about community relationships and, by being able to open our delicatessen and support local suppliers, we hope to help everyone in the area get back to normal as soon as possible.”
Raj Singh, HSBC Relationship Manager, added: “It has been an extraordinarily challenging year for the hospitality industry but Colin and Andreas’s vision and commitment to becoming an integral part of the Chiswick community has proven to be successful as they look to grow their customer base.”
