Staple foods, fair prices, owned by the people who work there

SPRöUT is a worker-owned grocery project being developed for Leicestershire

This page records key stages in the project's development. The work right now is steady and practical: shaping the model, testing the numbers, and working out what it would actually take to open a worker-owned grocery that serves Leicester properly. The most useful thing people can do at this stage is stay connected and spread the word. Sign up to the newsletter and share it with anyone who might be interested.

Everyone’s invited

Project status

SPRöUT is currently in a development phase.

Work underway includes:
• defining the minimum viable scale for the grocery
• developing the financial model
• clarifying governance and worker ownership
• exploring suitable sites in Leicester
• building relationships with producers and suppliers

This stage is about laying the foundations for a grocery that can operate sustainably over the long term.

Follow development updates: Newsletter

What we’re building

SPRöUT is designed to make everyday shopping simpler, fairer, and more sustainable.

Seasonal, quality-first produce

Food that tastes great and reflects the seasons.

Local suppliers where possible

Supporting nearby growers and independent producers.

Low-waste shopping

Refill and reduced packaging options built into the plan.

A practical everyday range

Not just “speciality” — staples you’ll actually use week to week.

Future worker membership

Community

What we are building

SPRöUT is being developed as a worker-owned grocery for Leicestershire. The intention is to build something useful and stable over the long term: a shop that serves everyday needs, with the potential to expand into prepared food and to reinvest surplus in community projects that fit the purpose.

Founding member-owners

To make things happen

We're looking to bring at least four additional founding member-owners on board. These are people who want real ownership of the project and can help make it financially solid and practically workable.

Get involved

SPRöUT is intended to operate as a worker-owned co-operative. As the project develops, a founding worker group will form to establish the co-operative and guide the early stages.

If you're interested in being involved as the project develops, register your interest: hello@sprout-grocery.co.uk

The range

The shop will focus on everyday staples: rice, pasta, oats, pulses, potatoes, and core fruit and veg. Seasonal produce will be sourced from nearby growers and independent suppliers where possible. Refill and reduced-packaging options are built into the plan. Some specialist lines will be stocked, but staples come first.

Updates

11 March 2026 — Structural Ethics Charter published

Who’s behind SPRöUT?

Rajiv Shah

Founding Member.

Rajiv grew up in Kenya and Uganda and has worked in wholefood retail for years. He eats plant-based and low-waste, and wants a shop that makes that straightforward for more people.

Reach me at rajiv@sprout-grocery.co.uk

Tamsin Robinson

Founding Member

Tamsin ran a cafe for years, serving good coffee and food. She still wants the same thing she did then: a place to buy quality food from people who know what they're selling.

Reach me at tamsin@sprout-grocery.co.uk