Meet Your Winner | Love Your High Street Awards 2026

The 2026 Love Your High Street Awards featured a record field of brilliant independent retailers, with the final contested by eight amazing shops.

After a public vote, it was Health & Remedy, a health food shop in Chard, Somerset, that took the top prize. Let's get to know them a little better...

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A community champion: Putting Chard businesses first

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Just over a year after opening its doors, Health & Remedy has already become a strong supporter of the wider Chard community. Rather than focusing solely on promoting its own business, owners Jason and Cris Wootton have created a free community platform dedicated to celebrating other local businesses and helping bring more attention to the town.

Chard Guide is a social media page created by Health & Remedy with one simple purpose: to promote businesses in the area without promoting Health & Remedy itself. The page highlights local businesses, events and things to do, helping direct more people towards the independent businesses that make up the town.

The idea reflects the team's wider approach to being part of the high street. As Jason explained after the win: “We absolutely love Chard and believe that being part of a high street is about much more than simply running a shop. It’s about supporting your community, giving something back and creating somewhere people love to visit.”

More than a health shop: Supporting health and wellbeing

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Health & Remedy may have only been open for just over a year, but Jason and Cris have built a business with a broad offer designed around health, wellness and everyday life.

The independent shop stocks health foods, supplements and natural remedies, including organic and whole foods, vegan and plant-based products, gluten-free and dairy-free alternatives, vitamins, minerals, herbal remedies and sports nutrition.

Its knowledgeable team also offers customers guidance on the products they stock, with the business focused on providing personalised service and catering for a wide range of dietary needs and lifestyles.

For Jason and Cris, that means creating a place where people can discover new products, get advice and find support close to home, while remaining firmly rooted in the local community.

From new shop to national award: A remarkable year

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Health & Remedy's first year has brought plenty of attention, with the shop already winning the Natural Lifestyle Retailer of the Year award before being named the 2026 Love Your High Street Awards winner.

Its work in the town has also seen images of Chard turned into artwork, while Jason and Cris have appeared on local radio and BBC One. Their success has even been recognised in Parliament, with local MP Adam Dance lodging an Early Day Motion celebrating the business and its contribution to the local community.

Health & Remedy’s success is particularly notable given how new the business is, having opened just over a year ago and already gaining national recognition while building strong links with the wider Chard community.

The team was delighted to be recognised by the Love Your High Street Awards, particularly as the business was still relatively new when it was nominated, while the win has also been seen as recognition of the support Health & Remedy has received from its local community.

For Jason and Cris, bringing the award back to Chard was especially important, reflecting both the support they have received and their commitment to championing other local businesses through the Chard Guide.