Abingdon Fresh Food Store Closure: Cooling Unit Issues Revealed

Abbey Fresh Food closed down. Plamena Marinova and Biser Andreev owned it. They opened it in February of last year. The shop sold food like fruits and bread. It was located in a former sports store.

The owners now run a juice bar at Coxeter’s Yard. Marinova explained why the shop closed. The issue involved fridge cooling units; these units keep fridges cold.

Neighbors first complained about the unit’s appearance outside the store. Later, they complained about the noise. The units were then inside the store room.

Environmental health got involved because of complaints. The council ordered them to move the units by a deadline of August 4th, or they had to close. The landlord couldn’t provide a place for them, so Abbey Fresh Food had to close permanently.

Marinova said her family lost a lot of money. The closure cost them over £100,000. The building had too many restrictions; it is a listed building.

Marinova and Andreev came from Bulgaria in 2006. They worked at Millets Farm, picking and packing fruit for ten years. Then, they invested in Abbey Fresh Food.

Local farms like Millets supplied the store, and The Natural Bread Company supplied bread. Despite the closure, they started a juice bar called Juice Corner.

They plan to open a new grocery store soon next to the juice bar. Juice Corner sells smoothies for £5.20, and juices cost £5. The new grocery store could open this month.