The Peoples Supermarket - one of the most exciting social enterprises in the UK!!

[Sarah Thorne]

The four huge supermarket chains in the UK, Tescos, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons, are systematically ruining local and small scale enterprises! At last, here is a supermarket by the people for the people!

The Peoples Supermarket works on the basis of membership - there is a yearly membership fee and as a reward, a 20% discount on all products in the shop.

But to be able to offer really low prices for high quality, local, seasonal produce they had to come up with something even better, a simple idea: 

Every member has to give 4 hours of their month to work at the people's supermarket. This not only save on all labour costs enabling them to offer their products at a low price, it also gives the members a sense of ownership. Through their fee they already own a share in the supermarket and can decide everything from the opening hours to the type and range of products the shop offers. With their 4 hours of work, they really get to know and care about the shop, the other members and the ethics behind the enterprise.

There is also a People's Kitchen which uses up all the produce that the shop cannot sell or that is about to go out of date. That way they can stick to their zero waste policy! The delicious food is then sold at very good prices in the shop (particularly attractive for quick and healthy lunch breaks).

The shop in London has been opened for over 1 year now and is very successful. Here is a link to their page: http://www.thepeoplessupermarket.org/home/. 

The second one is now opening in Oxford and there is already a lot of support and enthusiasm: http://tpsoxford.org/

This great initiative could really start to change our very destructive and wasteful supermarket consumer habits!

Hopefully it will spread to more towns in the UK and beyond!! 

[Albert Canigueral]

Hi,

Does that mean that they survived to last Feb problems? (see their press release: http://hackney.thepeoplessupermarket.org/press-releases/13459722)

Good! :)

Albert.

[Sarah Thorne]

Hi Albert,

ja, they did and are going stronger than ever!

With the Oxford branch opening soon and many more in preparation there has been a real push to support the efforts both locally and on an national scale.

There is also a very good series on Channel 4 documenting the set up the TPS in London. Its really informative, very honest and so inspiring! Really worth watching:

http://www.channel4.com/4food/on-tv/the-peoples-supermarket-extras/...

Albert Canigueral said:

Hi,

Does that mean that they survived to last Feb problems? (see their press release: http://hackney.thepeoplessupermarket.org/press-releases/13459722)

Good! :)

Albert.

[Sarah Thorne]

More news from the Peoples Supermarket, Oxford: They have been open for just over 1 month and have reached the 300 members mark! Now there are plans to set up a kitchen in order to reduce waste and make delicious meals and smoothies-to-go in the shop. 

They have entered a video competition for a grant to set up an industrial kitchen and need your votes. It couldn't be easier: Click on the link below, watch the video and cast your vote (there is no need to register)

 http://www.opusenergygift.com/video?id=IoAjEcjQvBc