A TAUNTON store is celebrating this week after they were named Franchise of the Year.

COOK, based in Corporation Street, were given the prize after acheiving 25 percent growth year on year.

The shop is owned by Chris and Astrid Birch, who were given the award at the annual COOK franchise conference.

Chris said: "We are chuffed to bits. We have been trading for nearly five and a half years. It has been hard work to get up and running.

"We started somewhere near the bottom of the pile in terms of income. For the last 12 months we have had 25 per cent growth.

"It is primarily that that has won us the award, coupled with the feedback and customers reactions."

Chris and Astrid Birch were presented with the award by COOK founder, Edward Perry.

Edward, who had been working as a travelling salesman for his parents bakery, set up his first shop in Surrey with chef Dale in 1997 selling hand-prepared, frozen foods.

The franchise currently has five members of staff, but is looking to expand on the back of their success.

"As we grow, the number of people we employ grows as well. In the next year we are looking to take on a new van, which will be two more positions as drivers.

"Over the rest of this year, we will be refurbishing the shop to keep us in line with COOK branding, and there is always new recipes."

These include a new push on vegetarian friendly products across the brand.

The Corporation Street store also operates a home delivery service, which covers from Minehead to Lyme Regis all the way over the Newton Abbot.

For more information, visit www.cookfood.net.