Unicorn Grocery

Situated in Chorlton, South Manchester, Unicorn Grocery is one of the biggest and most successful independent wholefood shops in the UK, named The Observer Food Monthly’s ‘Best Independent Shop’ and Radio 4’s ‘Best Local Food Retailer’ during 2008. Unicorn stocks most of the types of things you’d expect to find in a supermarket, but does business very differently:

Unicorn is based on a strong set of principles (our Principles of Purpose), which underpin the way we run our business. We have created a place we would like to shop in ourselves, selling affordable, wholesome, regional, organic and fair-trade products. We focus on basic ingredients for tasty, interesting and affordable cooking. Through the way we do business, we strive to make trade less exploitative of people, animals and the environment.

As a workers co-operative, the shop is owned and run by the people who work in it. We work with a flat management structure - we are all ‘managers’, and all co-op members (around 40 at present) are paid the same hourly rate.

Through the shop, website, and in the community we work to promote our business and what we are about, and to increase awareness and understanding of the many global and local issues surrounding food, environment and community.