A Northallerton speciality food store clearly found the recipe for success at the weekend.

For Lewis & Cooper clinched a hat-trick of successes at the first awards ceremony for the Yorkshire Independent Grocers' Association.

The event was held at Harrogate Pavilion on Sunday with scores of local shops vying for awards for 2003. The awards were made based upon nominations from customers.

Lewis & Cooper won three categories - best retailer of Yorkshire food and drink; best departmental manager and trainee of the year.

On the first count, the store's managing director, Tony Howard, said: "We have always championed Yorkshire produce.

"A couple of years ago we were going through our best-selling lines and realised the biggest seller of all was the word 'Yorkshire.' Everything with that word in it spells quality. This is what won the title for us - a combination of local suppliers and a wide range of produce. The suppliers are our backbone and we are very proud of them."

The delicatessen manager, Fabrice Marcotullio, walked away with a trophy for his win.

Mr Howard said Mr Marcotullio was trained on the continent and had brought a great deal of strength to the deli counter.

"Before he arrived, we sold about 150 types of cheese - now it is well over 200," he said. "The continental lines Fabrice has introduced, such as cheeses and olives, are proving really popular."

Mr Marcotullio is from France and has been with Lewis & Cooper for two years.

Trainee of the year title went to Helen Thompson.

Mr Howard said the 20-year-old from Northallerton joined the store as a junior and quickly found she liked what she was doing.

"She is a real grafter," he said. "Helen is now on an NVQ trainee manager's course and she is doing well on that. Helen is a valued member of our team."

Ms Thompson's prize is a tour of Scandinavia looking at the way shops operate over there.

"All in all it was a very good day for us," said Mr Howard. "We always live in hope of doing well but the association has an awful lot of members so competition is tough.

"We are delighted with our success. And the event itself was something good for Yorkshire and we hope it will become an annual event."

Other local winners include Elijah Allen at Hawes, which won the category for best specialist shop; Yorkshire Dales Beef of Patrick Brompton which won the title for Local Product of the Year and the Wensleydale Creamery which was was Manufacturer of the Year.