TWO city institutions are set to join forces as Scotland's oldest delicatessen Valvona & Crolla takes over Jenners food hall on Princes Street.
The renowned Edinburgh establishments have been at talks over the partnership for months but have today announced their plans for Valvona & Crolla to transform the food hall in late September or early October.
The new food hall will showcase Scottish produce, including fish, cheese, beef, haggis and sausages and also specialise in whisky, wine, chocolates, olive oils and Italian produce.
The new space will be double the size of Valvona & Crolla's current Elm Row store, giving the delicatessen the chance to display a larger range of products, gifts and hampers.
The revamped Jenners food hall, which has views of Edinburgh Castle and the Scott Monument, will also feature a small coffee bar, where food and wine tastings will be on offer.
The new partnership between Valvona & Crolla – which has been trading in Edinburgh for the past 74 years – and Jenners is part of House of Fraser's multi-million investment into the flagship Princes Street store. The major revamp will also see celebrity chef James Martin brought in to modernise its restaurant.
The star of Ready, Steady, Cook and Strictly Come Dancing has been in talks with House of Fraser about lending his name to the venture, which would see him overhaul the menu and oversee the training of the store's restaurant staff.
Philip Contini, chairman and managing director of Valvona & Crolla – which will also revamp the food hall in Jenners at Loch Lomond Shores – is looking forward to taking charge of the Princes Street store.
He said: "What we would like to be able to create is a place where people can come for Scottish produce and get something specific like lamb from the Borders or beef from Perthshire.
"After 74 years in the one location in Elm Row, we are bursting at the seams, and these two prestigious locations give us new opportunities to showcase the best food, wine, liqueurs and sprits from Scotland and Europe. People require better shopping in the city centre."
He added: "My dear father, Carlo Contini, passed away last week and he will be greatly missed by us all. We dedicate this important and exciting chapter in the company's history in memory of him."
George Bell, manager of Jenners, said the 170-year-old store is "delighted" to be associated with Valvona & Crolla.
He added: "Both Jenners and Valvona & Crolla are iconic brands known for quality and heritage.
"We look forward to working with them."
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www.houseoffraser.co.uk •
www.valvonacrolla.co.uk