TWO businesses are celebrating after being chosen to be part of a campaign that highlights small business success and encourages consumers to shop local.

Chocolate Buddha from Leigh and Benfleet- based Peckish Catering Services are two off 100 businesses in the UK to be celebrated by Small Business Saturday.

As part of the campaign, each business is celebrated for one day leading up to Small Business Saturday itself on December 3.

Lynn Long, co-founder of Chocolate Buddha which creates a range of yoga clothing for the “lycra-shy” talked about her journey to success.

She said: “We own a yoga studio and four years ago we realised how many women, were too nervous to attend a yoga or Pilates class because they were unsure of what to wear and were put off by Lycra-based sports clothing.

“Because yoga had been such a healing part of my recovery process from cancer and my co-founder Kerry Doyland’s from Rheumatoid arthritis, we wanted to take the scare factor out of attending a first yoga class for everybody, so we set out to create a butter-soft easy-to-wear flattering range of clothing that would encourage everyone onto the mat.”

Chocolate Buddha produces clothing made from natural yarns that are ethically sourced from sustainable European beechwood trees, and its clothes are designed, woven, dyed, printed and made in Britain.

Originally founded by American Express, Small Business Saturday is backed by leading business organisations and is free for small businesses to participate.

Peckish Catering Services, who have survived despite being unable to get accepted for any start up loans or grants caters for weddings and events, as well as corporate dining.

It also runs food markets across Essex, providing high quality food and entertainment with market management.

Founder Neil Belham said: “We truly believe that street food is able to bring communities together and allow them to experience high quality food in an enjoyable environment.

“We encourage first time traders to work with us at our street food markets to help build a network of high quality and dependable traders.

“This is only the beginning. We are aiming to work with local authorities to offer market consultancy to encourage the revival of markets and the introduction of street food more widely across the south east.”

In addition to the big day, the campaign also delivers help and advice alongside opportunities to connect with other small businesses.

Campaign Director Michelle Ovens said: “The British public has a great affection for small businesses and we continue to see that grow year on year. Small Business Saturday is an exceptional example of collaboration and co-operation with small businesses teaming up in communities around the UK.”

For more information on Small Business Saturday visit the Facebook page Small Business Saturday and Twitter feed @SmallBizSatUk