Our story

From Puglia to Stockport, since 1987.

Marco Romano arrived from Bari in 1985 with two suitcases, a coffee habit, and his mother's recipe for giardiniera. He spent two years working the wholesale stalls before he'd saved enough to do it his own way — and in 1987 the shutters went up on Market Way.

The idea was simple and it hasn't changed: half proper British grocer, half the pantry Marco grew up with. Eggs, milk, bread and beans done properly on one side; Parma ham, San Marzano tomatoes and real pesto Genovese on the other. We're not a corner shop and we're not a supermarket — we're the bit in between, with the loyalty of a place that's been here long enough to know what its regulars want on a Sunday morning.

Forty years on, Marco still picks the produce himself three mornings a week at New Smithfield market, and still refuses to stock a tomato he wouldn't eat. His son Luca runs the deli counter now — 18-month Parma ham sliced to order, mozzarella di bufala flown in twice a week, and a firm opinion on exactly how thin the mortadella should be.

What we do well

• The deli counter. 18-month Parma ham, Tuscan finocchiona, marinated olives and mozzarella di bufala flown in twice a week. Luca's territory.
• The bakery. Stone-baked sourdough, rosemary focaccia and fresh egg pasta, made on the premises. The sourdough sells out by lunchtime most days.
• The produce. Marco picks daily at New Smithfield. Whatever's at peak, he usually gets a deal on — that's what the weekly offers are.
• The basics done properly. Eggs, milk, bread, beans — the everyday things, the right quality, fair prices.

Delivery & collection

We deliver across SK1–SK8 in 2-hour slots, and same-day if you order by 1pm. Click & Collect is free — order online and it's picked and ready in 2 hours. Substitutions only if you ask us to, so you get exactly what you ordered (or as close as we can get it).

Come and say hello — we're right behind the indoor market, and there's usually something on the counter to try.