A group of local residents and shop-keepers, concerned at the decline of Barnes High Street, are investigating the possibility of opening a community owned, professionally run supermarket that complements the existing shops and services and caters to the needs of the Barnes community.
You can have your say by filling in the questionnaire which is available online here.
You may also be interested in the recent story in the Richmond and Twickenham Times.
THE IDEA- It began in the USA. Park Slope in Brooklyn (foodcoop.com) is one successful example.
- The first British example is The Peoples' Supermarket in Lamb's Conduit Street, WC1 whose web site is at www.thepeoplessupermarket.org
- There are other commercial stores with similar principles such as Unicorn Grocery Manchester, Hubbub delivery service, and True Food Reading.
FINANCING IT
- The initial income for setting up will come from fundraising
- Membership fees (at The Peoples' Supermarket (TPS) these are £25 p.a.) help to pay for running costs.
- Members volunteer (for example) 4 hours a month in the shop – which saves on salaries.
- Members get discounts (at TPS – 10%, in the USA – 30%)
- There will need to be some paid staff – shop manager, assistants, accountants, managers.
- It runs as a not for profit charity, all profits are ploughed back into the business.
- TPS needs to take £18,000 per month to break even and it currently takes £30,000
- To have better interaction between customer and retailer.
- Employ local people including students and those unable to obtain work easily for whatever reason.
- To buy locally and reduce food miles.
- To reduce wastage (by cooking soups for sale etc)
- To supply basic groceries and fill the gap on the High St
- To work with other local food shops for mutual benefit (e.g. discount links, increasing footfall, mutual advertising).
- To operate in an ethical and sustainable way
- Be price competitive with other supermarkets in the area
THE FUTURE
The novelty of this should attract attention from regional newspapers and television. This would make more people within the concentric catchment areas around Barnes aware and hopefully bring more visitors in.
There are plans afoot to make Rose House a tourist information centre with an "i" sign and have a Barnes map and marked tourist trail.
If Waitrose does come into the High Street the two should still be able to work mutually but that is in the hands of the community.
EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE AT ANY TIME AND AT ANY LEVEL.
Have your say. The questionnaire is available online here
Meetings: Tuesdays, Rose House, 7.p.m.
Contact :
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