A sweet shop in Alton that has only been open for five months is up for a national award.

Slush Truck has been shortlisted by The British Business Awards for ‘Best Retail Business of the Year’. Making the announcement sweeter was being one of six winners in Theo Paphitis’s Small Business Sunday.

Founder and owner Zack Hayter, spoke to The Herald about the shop’s recent achievements. 

“It is a great achievement and overwhelmingly amazing since we opened,” Zack said.

“I kind of feel like I'm a little guy and in a little town. But, it's nice to be recognised across the whole of the UK.

“Small Business Sunday is run by Theo Paphitis and he picks six businesses a week to join his network. It's really a network of other small businesses and you get publicity from him.”

In addition to having the shop shared across Mr Paphitis’s social media. Zack and the other business owners will get invited to an event next year. Getting to meet the former Dragons’ Den star, get a photo with him and receive a certificate.

The shop has been a hit with the town’s young people, who discovered Zack and the business through its TikTok, which has a following of 34,000.

Zack added: “It's crazy!

“We had someone come all the way down from Tamworth, some from Southampton and it's all because of TikTok.”

The online side of the business is also going well. People can purchase various international lollies and other sweets no matter where they are. Slush Truck will soon be launching on Amazon, further expanding its reach.

Zack will find out whether the shop has won at an official awards ceremony in London later this year. So why not marsh-mellow on down to Market Square to find your sweet treat today!