THE owner of a popular pizza shop is “gutted” to announce its closure after a “tough couple of years”.

White Label Detroit Pizza has closed the doors of its shop in Bentall’s Shopping Centre in Heybridge.

Owner Paul Boorman said the last couple of years had been challenging.

The business will continue to supply stock to Smiths Butchers in Maldon, Perrins Butchers in Stanway, Millins Butchers in Tiptree, Lathcoats Farm in Chelmsford and Birchwood Farm Shop.

They will also be continuing deliveries to CM1, CM2, CM3, CM8 and CM9 postcodes on Fridays.

Mr Boorman said: “I'm pretty gutted to be leaving our shop. It has been a tough couple of years with everything that has happened, but it is what it is.

“There are a few reasons why the shop is being closed but the biggest obstacle was when a supermarket only a few yards away installed a cheap self-serve coffee machine which saw the takeaway coffee trade disappear overnight.

“The first three months of the year had been very encouraging indeed with lots of new customers and plenty of returning ones too.

“Things are still very tough for small businesses, and when a revenue stream is lost because a corporate giant decides it needs even more profit then it puts up a massive red flag.

“It was a tough decision, but you just can't compete with that. If the British public doesn't get behind local independent businesses then they are going to lose them.

“But it's not the end of WLDP. We had plans to start a production kitchen off-site, so those plans have been brought forward."

He added: “Now I can focus on supporting our pop-up restaurant in Colchester in the fabulous and legendary Trotters Kitchen and Bar, as well as those amazing small independent retailers that we already work with.

“Other retailers are coming online and things are very exciting.

“I'm even hoping to have a nationwide delivery of our 'Make at Home' range of Detroit pizzas available soon, as well as working on local food and drink heroes such as Stuff'd Pies, and the Big Bear Cider Mill.

“Local businesses need to work together if we are to survive against big businesses.”