A thriving South Hams business has scooped a prestigious, nationwide Big Tick Award for Impact on Rural Communities.

South Brent-based The Local Food Company, recently taken over by Nick and James Toms of Country Man's Choice, has won a Big Tick Excellence Award to add to its growing collection of awards which include those for internet retailing of local food and green business excellence.

Despite their mounting collection of regional and national awards, this is the first time the company has been awarded this Business in the Community Big Tick.

Only 106 Big Tick awards were given out this year and other companies recognised for excellence in business include EDF Energy, Barclays, Manchester City and Rangers Football Club, Boots, Ford, BAA and Marks and Spencer amongst others.

Of this small number of companies, only seven were awarded the Big Tick for Rural Action which was sponsored by Commission for Rural Communities. In this category, The Local Food Company stood proudly alongside other companies such as Sainsbury's, BHP Billiton Petroleum and Lincolnshire Co-operative.

The Big Tick is only awarded to companies able to demonstrate excellence in the way that they organise and integrate their responsible business practices and who can show a positive impact both on society and on the business.

Nick Toms, Country Man's Choice: "We are thrilled and delighted to continue the work established by the previous partners, Dee and Simon."

The decision to award the Big Tick was made by a panel of independent, experienced practitioners, and as such is both hard won and highly prestigious.

This award recognises The Local Food Company's impact and potential impact on rural communities.

It recognises the innovative and pioneering way the company has brought together producers and local suppliers from the South Hams and Devon offering excellent food to an online generation and to a nationwide audience.

Key has been the potential to increase employment in the area. The business has also had particular success in increasing the sale of local food to holiday makers.

Stephen Howard, chief executive of Business in the Community, said: "I congratulate all the winners of a Big Tick this year. It is fantastic to see so many strong examples of responsible business practice.

"The Big Tick is now recognised as both a valuable and difficult award to achieve. It means a company has demonstrated ways in which they positively make a difference to the community in which they sell and trade.

"Those who achieve the Big Tick are leading companies. They know that they cannot build a successful sustainable business without constantly showing their commitment to being a better business."

The Local Food Company will collect their award in Bristol and then attend a meeting at The House of Commons to comment on their experiences as a responsible business.

A delighted Nick Toms said: "We are thrilled and delighted to continue the work established by the previous partners, Dee and Simon. We too are committed to having a positive impact on the Devonshire community and we look forward to taking the business forward further.

"This is an exciting time for both us and the company. To make our impact even greater we of course depend upon local people to support local producers by buying local food."

Country Man's Choice, an Ivybridge-based firm, bought The Local Food Company for an undisclosed sum in April 2008.