A popular shopkeeper has announced she is closing her whole foods shop after five successful years.

In contrast to many business, Dot’s Teas whole foods is not closing down for economic reasons. The outer Tavistock Pannier Market store has proved a must for Tavistock area customers wanting good service and wide range of choice.

However, the decision was a difficult one and aimed at improving her work/life balance with husband Phil, also a local trader with his metal garden sculptures. The couple are planning on semi-retirement, having built a loyal and robust clientele from throughout the Tavistock area and even Plymouth.

The announcement has been met with dismay by long-term customers who wish Dotty good luck every day when they pop into her shop.

Dotty said: “We wanted to let everyone know that we have made the very hard, but right decision to sell our little shop.

“We have had a great almost five years here and met some wonderful people, our customers are absolutely the best and have been so supportive over the years and a lot of them have become friends.

“We have not made the decision lightly, but we would really like to semi-retire and spend more time together doing more things that we love.”

Dotty is an inspiration to many, as a long-distance runner, running coach (founder of Bere Alston Trekkers Running Club), mentor for youngsters and as a cancer survivor who underwent life-saving surgery in 2024 and defied predictions by soon lacing up her running shoes in aid of related charitable causes such as The Swallows (a charity supporting patients with head and neck cancer) and Stand Up to Cancer.

Dotty continued doing everything to give herself the best chance of recovery and running her thriving business with little break in the past two years.

Famously motivational to others with her optimistic view on life, she was supported by a community 5km run in aid of a cancer charity, staged by a young teenager who was given the confidence by Dotty not to be defeated by bullying.

Dotty said: “It’s been very hard to decide to give up this business which I’ve poured my heart and soul into. Phil and I both realised we both wanted more from life. It’s the nature of retail that you have to work weekends and I’ve worked many years without a weekend off, while evenings have been taken up with baking cakes and my famous brownies for sale the next day.

“Now we want to spend more time together, confident we can pass on a very successful business to someone who has a similar philosophy behind their products and life. We specialise in selling local products such as honey, which can be therapeutic for people who live in the same area as the bees are pollinating.

“You have to believe in what you are selling, rather than expect to make lots of money.”