Staff at an Ayr fishmonger admit they are “totally delighted” after being named the best in the country.

J. Pieroni & Sons, who have been based in Peebles Street since 1954, were crowned Fishmonger of the Year at the Scottish Independent Retail Awards.

The family business has now won the award for the fourth time, something retail manager Clare Pieroni admits is a huge achievement.

She said: “We are all totally delighted. We are so glad to serve our customers in Ayr every day with fresh, diverse, good value, locally sourced seafood.

“The business started all the way back in 1954 and we are celebrating our 70th year in business, which is a big milestone.

“It is a family business, with brothers Jonathan and Mark currently the directors, with our dad Derek and his brother Duncan managing it before that.

Ayr Advertiser:

“It was all started by Joe Pieroni back in the 1950s, and we have been based in Peebles Street ever since.”

Clare reveals that the pandemic forced the business to think outside the box, and expand its delivery service across the region.

“We started an online home delivery service through covid, because we were rammed in the shop with massive queues and people coming from far and wide.

“Our wholesale drivers were likely to be furloughed, so instead we used them for home deliveries, and we have been going strong ever since.

“We are expanding our delivery service across the whole of Ayrshire and beyond now, and even over to Arran twice a week too.”

Clare has thanked the business’ customers for all their support over the years, and for voting for them in the awards.

She added: “It means a lot to us. Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, they are fabulously loyal and brilliant people who always vote for us for these awards.

“If they’re happy then we’re happy, to be honest it is a privilege to be able to serve the freshest, most diverse, quality sourced seafood to the people of Ayrshire. ”