08 Jul 2024
A chance meeting at an an airport resulted in a new branch of award-winning frozen food shop COOK opening in St Albans.
Director of retail and COOK franchise owner Matthew Bourne found the site in St Albans after a fan of COOK and local resident, Karen, suggested it when they met at the airport enr oute to their respective holidays.
Matthew said he’d only open in the city if a site came up in Marshalwick and Karen said she’d seen a site available that very morning.
Founded in 1997, COOK is an independent, family-owned company making and selling handmade, frozen meals and puddings.
All their meals are all made using fresh ingredients sourced from farmers and suppliers who share COOK’s approach to quality, sustainability, and animal welfare. The meals are flash frozen in their kitchens in Kent and Somerset and then transported nationwide.
Matthew added: “I’m very excited to have opened a new shop in Marshalswick. I have been lucky enough to have been part of COOK for many years, as part of the retail team, whilst also being a franchisee with my first shop opening in COOK Harpenden back in January 2011, and Berkhamsted a year later.
“It really is wonderful to have built so many great relationships with customers in the area over the years, as well as working alongside great teams. The people of St Albans have spoken and wanted a COOK shop of their own, so COOK and I are pleased to have made this happen.”
COOK works hard to be an active part of the communities where they have shops and offer 30 per cent off for community gatherings of 20-plus people. They also offer all new parents 10 per cent off for 12 months.
