THE owner of an organic delicatessen has said he will need to start serving cooked breakfasts to compete with a nearby supermarket.

Organic Deli Cafe & Wholefoods Store, in Botley Road, Oxford, has given up trying to make a profit from wholefoods and fresh produce in the face of competition from the new Waitrose which opened on the road last year.

Deli owner Trevor Bennett has now cooked up a plan to serve hot food such as omelette and pancakes, but first he will need permission to install a new kitchen at the back of the shop.

Mr Bennett has this week asked Oxford City Council for planning permission to change his 'use class' from 'deli cafe' to 'restaurant/ cafe'.

In his application, he said: "Since the opening of a nearby supermarket we had to withdraw from selling whole foods and fresh produce.

"The cafe currently has limited success and needs the [changed] class for growth.

"Currently we trade as the Organic Deli Cafe where food, cold sandwiches and salads are prepared on site but demand is there for hot, cooked food.

"We would be cooking dishes that are popular at our city centre store to include poached eggs, omelettes, pancakes as well as preparing muesli, granola and soups."

Mr Bennett even included a sample menu to whet planning officers' appetites, including French toast with Greek yoghurt, berries and maple syrup, poached eggs on toast with avocado and 'Swiss muesli - wow'.

The deli would continue to have seating for 18 people.

Members of public can view the application online at oxford.gov.uk using reference number 16/02864/FUL.