South Hams business The Local Food Company has been purchased by Country Man's Choice for an undisclosed sum.

Country Man's Choice, an Ivybridge-based firm, said it had bought The Local Food Company with plans to expand the firm.

Under the ownership of Dionne and Simon Rooney, The Local Food Company has gone from strength to strength, seeing over 150 per cent increase in monthly sales and winning a string of local and national awards for their pioneering business idea.

The company is the first specialist online local food retailer in the UK and prides itself on its sustainable and quality services delivering Devonshire food locally and throughout the UK.

Nick Toms, partner of Country Man's Choice, said: "We are delighted the opportunity has arisen to be involved with The Local Food Company.

"The work The Local Food Company has established promoting Devon’s food to a national audience fits in well with our aim to provide a route for market for local farmers and producers.

"We congratulate Dee and Simon on their achievements and look forward to continuing to grow The Local Food Company brand and building upon their successes."

Nick Toms, Country Man's Choice: "We congratulate Dee and Simon on their achievements and look forward to continuing to grow The Local Food Company brand and building upon their successes."

The Local Food Company formed in order to offer the convenience many people desire in order to "shop local". Internet food sales are soaring and Dionne and Simon have seen their business grow to the point where they needed to share the work load.

The Local Food Company has regularly been in the papers, on radio, on TV and has even recently had a film made about their business story such has been their success.

Last year, Simon collected his Green Business of the Year award as well as the Herald Express, South Devon Business Excellence Award for Green Business.

The achievements have been significant especially since the partners had no business backgrounds and both still continue to teach in Plymouth schools.

Simon said: "My favourite moment in the business was at the award ceremony in London last year when our business was singled out as the model for small businesses across the UK by the Secretary for Competitiveness. He said our use of technology, our ethics and our hard work were an example to all businesses!

"The worst part was not been able to spend more quality time with the family as we will not compromise on quality and service so it has been a demanding few years for us. We certainly look forward to a long holiday!"

Dionne added: "We are very proud indeed of our achievements - not least because it has been done ethically, fairly, honestly and without large amounts of public money!

"I trust Nick and James will continue to expand the business further and we both wish them great success; we are actually very excited for them and know with more time and more staff that the business has great potential.

"Our own next steps are to share our knowledge and our achievements in marketing with new, small and local businesses who believe marketing is a great idea but like us lacked a decent sized budget."

Nick and James say they are delighted to have purchased the business and though much will stay the same, one new service will be "drive through" collections from their popular farm shop, at the edge of the A38 at Ivybridge.