Two friends have launched a popular business in East Belfast that is the city's only Italian grocery shop.
Daniele Tedesco from Salerno and Mirko D'Angelo from Catania have opened Ciao Italian Grocers on the Cregagh Road in the hopes of bringing the flavours of their home country to Northern Ireland.
All of the items that they sell have been sourced directly from Italy and the pair are offering a wide array of Italian cheeses, meats, pastas and other delicacies that would normally be very difficult to buy here.
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The pair originally started their business by opening stalls at different markets, before they were given the opportunity a couple of years ago to have one at the City Hall's Christmas market.
After finding their goods to be very popular, they decided they would open up a premises of their own in East Belfast and said that they are hoping to create a "nice family of customers" with people coming from all over NI to visit them.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Daniele said that since opening their shop on Cregagh Road they have had a tremendous response from people, particularly the Italian community in Belfast who are now able to get items from home they would not be able to find elsewhere.
He said: "Mirko and I started our business a few years ago in order to bring original Italian produce to Northern Ireland as there were many things that we missed from home that we struggled to be able to buy here.
"At first we started off with stalls at markets in Bangor and Belfast and as our popularity grew we were very honoured to get a place at the Christmas Market where we were able to meet even more customers and how the amazing food that we have available.
"Shortly after our first year on the market we opened our shop on Cregagh Road and have been welcomed into the community here from the start.
"Everything that we have has been sourced directly from Italy and we aim to keep our prices as low as possible by cutting out any middle men and dealing with our suppliers directly.
"Some of our Italian customers living here in Northern Ireland have been very touched to see what we have available as it reminds them of home and gives them the chance to have things they that miss.
"We have also enjoyed introducing our authentic Italian food to the people of Belfast and we always have new customers coming in who are curious about what we have available and always willing to try something new.
"Our aim is to create a family of customers here in Belfast and encourage everyone to come in for a visit."
If you would like more information about Ciao Italian Grocers please visit their Facebook page.
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