Bury St Edmunds to see opening of new Afro-Caribbean grocery shop in St Olaves Precinct on the Howard Estate this weekend

An Afro-Caribbean grocery shop which aims to unite the community is gearing up to open on a Bury St Edmunds estate this weekend.

Jesse’s Kitchen will open on the St Olaves Precinct on the Howard Estate on Sunday, with a buffet for residents to sample some of the Afro-Caribbean food on offer.

The shop, run by Sophia Jacobs, 60, will feature fresh and chilled produce, as well as being a pick up spot for cooked Afro-Caribbean takeaway dishes.

Sophia said: “It will have all the Caribbean and afro produce like fish, fresh vegetables and groceries. I’ll also be cooking on a Friday and a Saturday for delivery through Just Eat and Deliveroo.”

London lass, Sophia, moved to Bury about 11 years ago and ran Jesse’s Kitchen from her home. The business took a backseat while she raised her son Robert, but now she feels she’s ready to once again give more time to the company.

“I’m looking forward to the opening day and I hope people come. People have shown a lot of interest.”

She believes this type of grocery shop is needed in the town to serve both the Afro-Caribbean community and other communities.

“Those of us that are here go to London to our shopping but my main reason for setting the shop up is because I’ve always wanted our food to be mainstream – like Chinese or Indian,” she added.

“I think it’s time.

“It’s not just for my community, it’s for every community.”

Produce on offer includes frozen fish, such as snappers, croakers, tilapia; frozen goat, and vegetables such as callaloo, jute leaves, mulukhiyah, okra, African sweet potato, and African spices.

Additionally, she offers a batch cooking service where she cooks big batches of favourite dishes for Afro-Caribbean professionals or those who do not have time to cook, and can do British dishes as well.

Sophia also founded a registered charity called On a Silver Plate to combat food waste and hopes to develop this further.

The grand opening will be from 1.30pm to 5pm and the buffet will cost £9.99 for adults, £4.99 for under 10s and free for under 5s.

Buffet food on offer includes Jollof rice, rice and peas, goat curry, grilled mackerel, and spinach stew.

More details about Jesse’s Kitchen can be found on the website here.