Greggs the bakers has announced that its shop in Uttoxeter has won the prestigious Midlands Shop of the Year Award, after beating off competition from 166 shops across the region.

The award, which is now in its 8th year, recognises and rewards Greggs' staff who excel in all aspects of shop operations; from customer service to sandwich preparation. Each shop is assessed throughout the year and judged on its overall performance including product availability, profits and staff turnover.

The Uttoxeter shop excelled in every category and has built a loyal customer base thanks to friendly staff who always go the extra mile. Shop manager Ruth Swindell praised her staff for their continued commitment to the high standards that she knows makes the difference between a good shop and a great shop. Ruth said: "All our staff work really hard and are thrilled to have won this award. The team always tries to deliver excellent customer satisfaction by offering great tasting food served with a smile."

Keith Fenton, regional manager said: "The growth and success of Greggs is founded on the very best products served by the friendliest staff, and we are committed to rewarding their hard work and enthusiasm. "Ruth is actually quite new to the role so it is testament to her excellent team-player attitude that the shop has already won this prestigious award. "As always it was a difficult decision as so many shops demonstrated the high levels of service we have come to expect - which further demonstrates how impressed we are with the staff at our Uttoxeter shop." Greggs of the Midlands currently has 166 shops in the region and continues to expand across the Midlands with several new shops planned for 2008.