European rally champion roars into motion at village chippie after native couple change into “sole” merchants

A Ceredigion couple who had been pissed off when their native chippie was closed over a Financial institution Vacation weekend discovered the right reply – they took over the enterprise.

Aled and Nia Roberts jumped into motion when the chip store in Llanon, between Aberystwyth and Aberaeron, was put available on the market simply days later and so they had been in a position to lease the property.

Eighteen months later they’ve constructed up commerce primarily based on good, regionally sourced meals in addition to their intensive promotion of the Welsh language and displaying native historical past and tradition prominently of their entrance home windows.

Prospects have written glowing evaluations of their go to to Sglods (Welsh for chips) on social media and on-line overview web sites.

Their followers embrace European rally champion and good friend Chris Ingram who loves their fish and chips and volunteered to assist them out one busy night.

Now Aled and Nia have been shortlisted for an award on the Gwobrau Mwyaf Cymraeg yn y Byd (Most Welsh within the World Awards) organised as a part of the Bwrlwm ARFOR scheme that’s run by Anglesey-based consultancy agency Lafan.

The intention of the comPetitors is to have fun all issues Welsh in enterprise throughout the 4 counties with the best share of Welsh audio system, Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire, Gwynedd and Anglesey.

The winners might be introduced at an awards ceremony in Aberystwyth and the couple are thrilled to have been shortlisted within the class for the Most Welsh Model.

Aled, 50, mentioned: “We discovered about being shortlisting when the web voting was launched. We’re delighted and really excited by it.

“Welsh is a vital a part of our enterprise as a result of Welsh could be very a lot in use on this space. From the indicators exterior and the menu boards inside to our social media pages we make intensive use of the language and are proud to take action.”

Aled mentioned the chance for him and Nia to take over the chip store was fairly uncommon.

“It was August 2022 and we had been on vacation with our two kids getting again on the Financial institution Vacation Saturday and we thought we’d get some chips from the chip store which is reverse our home for supper.

“But it surely was closed and we tongue in cheek mentioned that if the enterprise was ever to change into out there we’d give it a strive. .

“I believed no extra of it however simply days later a “Enterprise Alternative” signal went up. It was as if it was meant to be,” he mentioned.

After their profitable bid, the couple re-branded the enterprise, re-named it as Sglods and utilized a recent coat of paint to the outside.

“Neither of us had any expertise within the catering trade and we had been fairly actually thrown in on the deep finish.

“We seemed very fastidiously at what we had been providing and have made each effort to supply what we promote regionally or from Wales.

“Sadly we are able to’t acquire our fish from Wales, the cod comes from Iceland however the potatoes naturally come from Pembrokeshire. We have now an excellent provider who additionally provides their potatoes to many supermarkets.

“Our particular pie of the week is widespread and is equipped from an organization primarily based in Cross Palms close to Llanelli, and our sausages are made in Welshpool” he mentioned.

The couple are simply as eager to advertise the native space and with the store having two massive home windows going through the busy A487 he determined to show artefacts and pictures explaining the historical past of the village and occasions in  the encompassing space.

Aled added: “With the assistance of our shut good friend Sian, who’s the inventive one, we attempt to change the theme each month. Once we had the ploughing competitors within the village I discovered an outdated plough and a few images and put them within the window. At Easter we had an image of a hen and I’d hidden some Easter eggs across the village with vouchers for the store in them.

“We have now an image of the month of native folks, buildings or panorama which invariably begins a debate and a Welsh saying of the month.

“The shows have change into widespread and we’ve folks coming simply to see them and a few organisations have requested if they will create a show to advertise their work or forthcoming occasions.”

For a few years Aled has run Ceir Ardwyn Automobiles, a motor dealership primarily based within the village whereas Nia labored for Cyngor Sir Ceredigion Council.

He has a eager curiosity in motor sports activities and was a navigator in motor rallying for a few years.

“A number of weeks in the past Chris Ingram and his father John who’re associates of the household got here to remain and  do some testing forward of a British Rally Championship spherical.

“Chris was the primary British driver to change into FIA European Rally Champion in over 50 years and raved about our fish and chips, he even helped us out one busy night time and did a shift within the store.

“We have now images of him working behind the counter on our social media,” he mentioned.

The aim of the competitors is to encourage companies to make use of Welsh to spice up their backside line – and put a smile on folks’s faces on the identical time.

It definitely appears to have succeeded with dozens of entries lastly whittled right down to 30 finalists in seven completely different classes.

A spokesperson for ARFOR mentioned: “Our intention is to create a buzz round the usage of Welsh in a enterprise or industrial atmosphere and the way it can assist companies thrive and supply careers for our younger folks in order that they don’t really feel they’ve to maneuver away.

“We have now acquired dozens of nominations from a wide range of companies throughout the 4 counties of Ynys Môn, Gwynedd, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire and people shortlisted for an award are these the judges really feel are doing their utmost to make use of and promote the Welsh language on their premises, their advertising and their social media channels.

“We have now 30 finalists and we’re conducting a public vote on social media.

“We want all of them the perfect of luck on the forthcoming award ceremony and hope the opposite nominees proceed their good work in utilizing and selling our language.”

The Bwrlwm ARFOR marketing campaign is a part of the ARFOR Two scheme that was launched in 2022 in succession to the 2019 ARFOR programme to proceed to strengthen and promote the financial resilience of the Welsh language within the 4 counties.

ARFOR Two is meant to supply financial assist to communities which might be strongholds of the Welsh language, improve alternatives to see and use the Welsh language each day and assist younger folks beneath the age of 35 to remain in or return to their communities.