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Ipswich couple Katrina and Andy have turned their passion into a thriving business, celebrating two years of serving up handcrafted, homemade focaccia sandwiches at their quirky St Nicholas Street shop.
Established in 2023, St Nicholas Sandwich Shop is the brain-child of Katrina and Andy, an Ipswich couple who have been married for over 30 years.
The idea for the shop evolved organically, emerging after lengthy discussions about their respective skill sets and Andy’s vast experience as a chef.
A dedication to quality
The shop is especially well-known for its home-made focaccia bread, which was developed specifically to work well both fresh and grilled.
Huge emphasis is placed upon quality ingredients, which are always freshly prepared. This includes slow-cooked gammon and beef, roasted vegetables, nut-free pumpkin seed pesto, and their own-recipe tapenade – all made in-house.
Their menu is a mouth-watering collection of regular staples, including their three bestselling sandwiches: Philly Steak, Club BLT, and the Tuscan Chicken. Being ‘foodies’ themselves, they offer rotating weekly specials, and have recently added an increasingly-popular halloumi sandwich. They pride themselves on being adaptable and responsive to customers needs, so they're always happy to tweak a sandwich to suit people's preferences.
Reaching new customers
With such a unique offering, Katrina and Andy have found that word-of-mouth has been predominantly how new customers have made their way to the shop.
Taking onboard feedback from their weekday customers who wanted to bring a partner in at the weekends, they have recently decided to shift their opening days. They are now operating Tuesday through to Saturday, and are excited to be participating in the extra vibrancy that a premiership football club is bringing to the town centre.
Beyond the shop, they also offer external catering, creating sandwich platters for businesses across the town. Platters can either be collected from the shop or dropped off on location, and with their usual enthusiasm and adaptability, they are keen to cater for all kinds of special occasions, including weddings.
Reflecting on their journey so far
Having just marked the second-year anniversary of the shop, neither Andy nor Katrina can believe how quickly the time has gone by, and the positive welcome they have received on St Nicholas Street.
Both have lived in Ipswich for many years, raising their children here, and were super excited when an existing food premises became available. They appreciate the character of the street, and the presence of so many other independent businesses in one location. It's a thriving and vibrant community to be a part of.
Future plans
Despite having only spent a short time in Katrina and Andy's company, their passion for quality food and genuine dedication to their craft shines through. This entrepreneurial spirit, combined with their commitment to freshly prepared, home-made ingredients, has established St Nicholas Sandwich Shop as a valued part of Ipswich's independent business community.
As they look to introduce hog roast specials and expand their catering services for weddings and events, the couple's culinary journey continues. With two successful years behind them and a growing reputation and customer base, St Nicholas Sandwich Shop enhances the vibrant and distinctive character of St Nicholas Street, cementing its status as a key food destination in our town centre.
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