A shop in the making, sharing every step of the journey.
The project, in order.
Two public meetings
Held at Friends Meeting House, Leicester. The first launched the project. The second included speakers from Unicorn Grocery and CASE.
Study day at Unicorn
Rajiv and Tamsin spent a day with the Unicorn team, alongside people from other co-ops and food projects. Unicorn ran the day because they want more shops like theirs to exist.
Structural Ethics Charter
The charter sets out the principles governing how SPRoUT will be structured and run. It covers worker ownership, pricing, surplus distribution, and long-term commitments. Read the charter (PDF) →
Development phase
Financial model, premises search in Leicester, founding worker-member group, and supplier relationships all in progress.
Decisions remain with the people doing the work.
The long version.
SPRoUT Grocery Guide
The blueprint we are using to plan our Leicester-scale worker co-operative, covering demographics, operations, and our core range. Includes a 20-minute audio overview.
Read the guide →Grow a Grocery
The original, comprehensive guide to starting a worker-owned wholefood grocery, written by Unicorn Grocery in Manchester. The model that inspired our starting point.
Read it →What people ask us.
A worker-owned grocery being developed for Leicester, focused on everyday ingredients and fair pricing.
We are actively searching for suitable premises of 300 square metres plus, ideally on a single level, in Leicester. We initially evaluated a unit on Abbey Lane but ruled it out due to high flood risks.
Affordable, fresh, and wholesome food of non-animal origin, with an emphasis on organic, fair-trade, and local produce. Sourcing this way keeps our buying simple, and it helps us keep prices affordable.
We are strictly a physical retail shop. We don't offer online sales or home deliveries.
No fixed date yet. The site needs to be settled, the financial model finalised, and the founding worker-member group in place first.
While the initial development is self-funded by the founders, opening the shop will require raising capital. We are looking for values-aligned funding, including donations, loans, and investments from individuals and organisations who share our ethos.
Yes. We are looking for donations, loans, and investments from values-aligned individuals and organisations. If you would like to help fund the shop's opening, please get in touch at hello@sprout-grocery.co.uk.
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