AN Asian and African grocery shop is championing 'cultural and culinary variety' in Carlisle. 

GrocerHut is located in Carlisle's Linton House on Shaddongate and is run by co-owners Jinson George, Jovin George, and Bijesh Pappachan who opened their shop in January 2024. 

GorcerHut specialises in Indian and African ingredients, products, and groceries including all things from rice and flour to fresh produce such as fish, meats, spices, snacks, and sweets. 

In the ten months since GrocerHut, Jinson explained how he has taken pride in supplying locals with everyday essentials whilst also promoting 'cultural exchange'

He said: "GrocerHut provides customers with daily essentials such bread, milk, and eggs making it a convenient store for everyone’s daily needs.

"We bring in fresh fruits and vegetables, also exotic fruits and vegetables across from different continents at a cheaper price beating all supermarkets. 

"Shops like GrocerHut bring essential cultural and culinary variety to Carlisle, meeting the needs of a growing Indian community and introducing diverse products to a wider audience.

"Carlisle, like many areas in the UK, has seen increased demand for international ingredients as multicultural communities grow and British consumers become more adventurous with global cuisines.

"We not only serve the South Asian diaspora but also promote cultural exchange, allowing locals to access authentic ingredients and allow people to try new recipes."

For Jinson, GrocerHut fills an important cultural niche and this has been reflected by the 'amazing responses' the business has received not just in Carlisle but across the region.

He said: "After trading for 10 months we have had amazing responses from the public.

"We have managed to place ourselves well in the market with competitive prices receiving positive feedback on Google and our social media platforms.

"We have been able to cater to areas such as Workington, Whitehaven, Appleby, Penrith, and Dumfries with our weekly free delivery service.

"We also run offers on snacks which are buy one get one free."