Delia Smith is hanging up her apron - at least when it comes to her involvement with the catering at her beloved Norwich City Football Club.

After celebrating her 70th birthday, the celebrity chef and joint majority shareholder at Carrow Road has announced she is stepping down from her role at running the successful Delia's Canary Catering.

With the Canaries gearing up for the new season back in the Premiership, Delia said she wanted to reduce her workload and pass the catering operation at the club onto a younger team.

She said: 'I have worked with a fantastic team who have supported my vision from day one and its success is a tribute to them. It is now time for a fresh approach and a younger team who, I am confident, will take the business even further.'

Delia's Canary Catering was set up in 1997 and, according to bosses at Carrow Road, has made a 'signifcant financial contribution' to the club's coffers, securing record profits this year.

The company, a trading arm of Norwich City Football Club, runs Delia's Restaurant and Bar and the Yellows American Bar and Grill at Carrow Road, with all menus made up from Delia's own published recipes.

It also hosts a number of special events throughout the year and is responsible for making or sourcing all the food at the club on matchdays.

While the name of Delia's Restaurant will remain unchanged, a decision has yet to be made on whether Delia's Canary Catering will be re-branded.

The club stressed that Delia and her husband Michael Wynn Jones will 'of course' continue to serve as joint majority shareholders and directors on the Norwich City Board.

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