AFAMILY-OWNED chain of shops has said a £400,000 redevelopment of the Witney store it bought in 1976 is a ‘show of commitment’ to the area.

Fraser’s Retail refurbished its Cannon Pool store on Hailey Road last month, adding a range of products and services.

The Oxfordshire business’s first site was opened by Bob Fraser in Rowstock, near Didcot, in 1954 and it remains close to its roots, with Mr Fraser’s sons Robert and Hugh now running the company.

Many positions are filled by the family and Jonathan Fraser, the business’s shops development manager and grandson of the store’s founder, believes the tight-knit feel has kept the retailer grounded.

He said: “We’ve been there when they need us and it’s also a huge part of our lives.

“We’ve been involved throughout our lives, from stacking shelves when we were five years old.”

The Didcot-based company now runs five sites around the county, including stores in Brize Norton and Yarnton.

It has won several awards down the years, with the Yarnton branch scooping independent retailer of the year at the national retail industry awards in 2012.

Several staff across its stores are longstanding employees and many have worked for Fraser’s for decades.

Mr Fraser maintains the business’s decision to remain independent has helped keep Fraser's in touch with its customers and become the ‘bedrock’ of the communities it serves.

This is particularly true of the Witney store which, since reopening on June 8, has made a real difference as a one stop shop for residents who cannot easily travel into the town centre.

Mr Fraser said: “It’s quite hard to get into town - you’ve only got one road and it always seems to be blocked, but people don’t feel they have to get into town anymore.

“At our Witney store we still employ Derek Allen, who joined us back in 1976, and many of the staff have been there in excess of 15 years, some over 20.

“It’s a proper local store and the changes made have helped transform the area.”

As an Oxfordshire-based business, the company prides itself on stocking more than 200 goods produced across the county.

Frasers also gives back to the community through its ‘plastic bag tax’, which collects money for Oxfordshire charities and organisations.

More than £2,000 has been raised since the start of 2018, with the Witney store contributing £247.50 to Oxford hospice Sobell House.

While community certainly comes first for the retailer, Mr Fraser insists this does not come at the expense of ambition and points to the refurbished Witney store as evidence.

He said: “We’re always looking to expand but only when the right opportunity comes along.

“It’s not a cheap business but it’s worth it.”