Good morning people of forest hill ,I have read with concern the comments made re the Italian deli most of which are not true,as a fellow trader in Dartmouth rd of 12 years I have seen many businesses come and go but one thing that has always been a priority is to support those business personally and through the traders association,in my own business I have had many competitors open over the last 12 years who have always had my full support
As regard to ilmerto they wanted to open a 2nd pizza restaurant as many of their customers in East dulwich were coming from forest hill,unfortunately the council would not grant them a A3 licence so having signed a lease and paid rent in advance they had to quickly look at how best to use the shop space,being Italian their natural leaning was to gelato and Italian meats and cheeses
As far as under cutting the compitition they did what I do and every business person does look at where to position your business in the local market place
The thing that has angered me more than anything else is the comment that the gelato is powder mixed with water,this is so wrong and very unfair,I watch these guys making fresh gelato every day and not a drop of water is used further more the only ingredients that are used are fresh milk,fresh cream,stabiliser,a liquid base and the fresh fruit or flavour of the gelato,it is made freshly in the shop every day and listening to the comments of the people who use it they really enjoy the traditional Italian way of making gelato ,the guys investment in the machinery for gelato is over £24,000 a bit more than just buying a fridge
I have always wanted Dartmouth rd to be the hub of forest hill,and we are at last moving in the right direction ,but we need to help and support each other