Plastic-free supermarket in Cheltenham seeking help from community to expand

Food Loose allows customers to buy the exact amount of any product

Author: Isabel KimbreyPublished 14th Jan 2022
Last updated 14th Jan 2022

A plastic free supermarket in Cheltenham is seeking the help from the community to expand in a bid to tackle the climate emergency.

Food Loose allows customers to take along reusable containers and purchase the exact quantity of any product.

The shop offers a wide range of products, including food, cleaning and beauty products.

Due to a rising demand for the ethical way of shopping, the business is now looking to expand and find a bigger premises.

Cat Elton, who's part of the management committee, said: "After being under the umbrella of the charity Global Footsteps who provided us with our current premises, we're really hoping to get help from the community to help us grow the business.

"Over the last two years demand has really increased and we're not just seeing our loyal customers walk through the door, but also new ones too.

"Because of this we really need to move premises which really is the driver of our share offer."

How does the scheme work?

After becoming too big for Global Foosteps to manage, the volunteers who started Food Loose turned it into a Community Benefit Society.

Since the start of December, a crowd funder started by Food Loose has reached just over ÂŁ46,000 with the money going towards expanding the business.

Cat added: "so people can invest from ÂŁ250 up to ÂŁ6,000 which buys them one share in the business. Everything is equal though so regardless of how much you put in, one share equals one vote.

"We want to bring investment into the business, and bring the community, who are our investors, in as well and give them a voice in terms of how it works.

"By bringing people in who are passionate about this will hopefully change the dynamic of shopping in Cheltenham for others."

How Food Loose want to expand

"At the moment you really can't even swing a cat around in the shop", said Cat.

"We've expanded the range of products we offer massively over the last couple of years and we also need a place which is suitable for our volunteers to work it.

"Carrying heavy bags of rice up and down stairs really isn't ideal for everyone."

Food Loose are looking to:

  • Expand the size of the shop premises
  • Ensure there are parking facilities for both cars and bikes
  • Develop their delivery and click and collect options
  • Take on a full-time shop manager
  • Invest in better operating systems

The rise of ethical shopping

Plastic-free shops have popped up all around the country over the last few years amid the climate emergency.

As people grow more conscious about their lifestyle choices, the demand for ethical shopping has also grown.

Cat said: "This really is for anybody. It's for anyone who's passionate about knowing where their food comes from to how it's packaged.

"Even down to how the people who have grown the product are paid and looked after - all the way to how it's transported to their kitchen cupboards.

"You don't have to have any fancy containers, it really doesn't matter. We're always so happy to help people who are new to it all.

"We also really want to help people realise how it can be built into your routine. We even offer people the opportunity to drop containers and a list off before work, we'll fill it up and then can then collect it on their way home."

To support Food Loose's crowd funder visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/foodloosecommunityshareoffer

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