Organic butcher Fellers of the Covered Market, Oxford, has been named Best Specialist Retailer of the Year 2000 by the Soil Association, writes David Duffy.

The nationwide competition run with national newspaper Mail on Sunday generated a record 785 entrants, including large stores and supermarkets.

Fellers was named Best Specialist Shop in the local shop sector for its organic meats.

Co-owner Mitzi Feller said: "We're still a bit shell-shocked, especially as this is the first competition we've entered in 20 years of business and we won."

Fellers is owned by Elizabeth and Michael Feller, and their children Michael and Mitzi.

The family made the decision to go organic three years ago, selling organically farmed pork, beef, lamb, chicken and eggs.