David Barrie, advisor to and member of The People's Supermarket, on Camden's new form of co-operative enterprise
In a world where the local makes more sense than the global and collaboration is a more efficient and effective a route to prosperity than dependency, it pays dividends to find ways and means to trigger and grow grassroots economy.
This is one dimension of a new co-operative enterprise that has just opened in Lamb's Conduit Street in the London Borough of Camden.
The People's Supermarket is an Industrial & Provident Society that sells food and produce to the general public – but in exchange for a commitment of four hours time every month and a small annual fee, you can become a member and earn a discount at the till.
A key objective of the supermarket is to help families and low income groups in the community have access to food that is affordable and more locally sourced and it's through volunteer time, expert sourcing of product and maximum use of recycled fixtures, fittings and waste that the enterprise can afford to match, if not undercut the prices of its for-profit competitors.
The business operates from premises that had been empty for many years, blighting the area's street and social life and bigger economic prospects.
Over half of the venture's start-up costs have been covered by donations of goods and services, by local residents as much as companies large or small.
Alongside a small number of paid managers, the shop is staffed by three kinds of people: members, volunteers who have signed up through local organizations and 18-24year olds who have been on Job Seekers Allowance and are participating in the Government's Future Jobs Fund.
The People's Supermarket matters because neighbourhoods need places in which strangers can associate. If we want well-being to become a part of everyday life, we need to find innovative ways to lower the cost of access to healthy food. The supermarket is an example of social enterprise operating at the centre of the consumer market and how we can review and repurpose the value of dead parts of our towns and cities.
The People's Supermarket differs from many modern co-operatives in that it's open to non-members and while it advocates sustainably-produced and sourced food, this new mutual has no problem stocking baked beans, fizzy drinks and chocolate – because that's what members want to buy and sell.
The rise of out-of-town shopping, concentration of grocery retail and food price inflation have created a local need in a global city that's well-served by a venture that operates on principles very close to the Rochdale Pioneers of 1844.
Inspired in part by the
Park Slope Food Coop in Brooklyn, New York, The People's Supermarket is supported by its members, the London Borough of Camden, Development Trusts Association, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Social Enterprise London and several local residents associations.
David Barrie is an advisor to and member of The People's Supermarket, which can be found on 72-78 Lamb's Conduit Street, WC1N 3LT. He writes in a personal capacity. See The People's Supermarket website for more details and images of the start-up venture.