Two enthusiastic foodies are hoping their new business venture will provide the platform for local producers to showcase their organic produce. 

Keen's Organic & Natural, a health food store, was opened by couple Adam and Theresa Keen last week in Winchester Road, Highams Park. 

The couple took over the retail unit, which recently had a very brief stint as a skateboard shop, to fulfil a "gap in the market" and encourage residents to shop locally. 

Keen's stocks organic fruit and vegetables, fruit juices, eco-cleaning products, cooking ingredients and ready-made organic meals. 

Its clients include Larkswood Honey and Woodford & Warner, which produces a hibiscus flower cordial. 

Mr Keen, 36, a qualified yoga teacher of 15 years, said: "There is nothing like this in Chingford, Woodford or areas like Buckhurst Hill. 

"We're seeing a gentrification of the area with more people taking an interest in eating and leading a healthier lifestyle.

"We see our business as a showcase for people producing locally. 

"Good quality food does cost but we're finding that people are quite happy to spend their money on a product they can trust and know is organic. 

"Organic food from Tesco is not the same, it is still produced on a big farm and just has an organic label attached. 

"My wife and I were enthusiastic to give this a go as it is a hobby of ours.

"We would spend our weekends visiting health food shops and delis around London and now we have our very own." 

The fruit and vegetables are currently sourced from farms in Kent and other home counties but Mr Keen is hoping to stock produce grown by OrganicLea at Hawkwood allotment site in Chingford once the shop has settled in.  

They hope to grow their business within the community and are keen to open more shops within Waltham Forest and Epping Forest.