Much of the employment will be focused upon the packing of dried foods (pulses, fruit, nuts, grains etc) and spices, in two purpose built rooms, providing the basis for the stock list. The main offer is delicious wholefood produce with natural ingredients, following the principle of local, organic, environmentally friendly and fair trade, wherever possible, and as a result, Wholefood Planet is keen to forge links with local producers and growers. Restricted diets and allergies are catered for too, alongside world foods, baby products and homewares
A coffee shop is due to open mid February, within the retail area, creating a unique ambience within the stores contemporary industrial setting. Manager, Kevin Joyce says, “The retail area and café should work well together, making us a meeting or social venue too, as well as one of the first in a new wave of urban food stores. As a CIC and Social Firm, any profits made, are re-invested into further employment, and if we are successful, we hope to be able to offer employment for as many as twenty people.”
Wholefood Planet Norwich CIC is a ‘first’ in several ways for Norfolk: - It’s the FIRST SOCIAL FIRM retail outlet in Norwich - It’s the FIRST Wholefood Planet store to open in the whole of the UK - It’s the FIRST social licensee* to open in the whole of the UK as a Social Firm retail outlet - It’s promoting healthy eating and organic products within its local area and therefore meeting other social agendas.
The company was created out of a partnership between Norfolk County Council and Norwich City College, both of which are active in seeking innovative ways to employment for people with learning disabilities in the county. They decided jointly to create a separate legal entity which could then take on the licensed business opportunity offered by Social Firms UK, the national support agency for Social Firm development, with the Wholefood Planet brand. Wholefood Planet as a business model is based on the ongoing successful social enterprises of Daily Bread Co-operatives based in Northampton and Cambridge.
Wholefood Planet Norwich CIC is located in Oldhall Road (NR4 6FF) – Units C & D Yarefield Park. It is open Monday to Saturday 9am till 5.30pm and has plenty of car parking available.
The formal launch of Wholefood Planet Norwich CIC is not until the 18th March 2009, but the shop is fully stocked and trading now.
The Social Firm is also seeking individuals with skills in business, finances, marketing, HR and legal to join its board of directors and drive the enterprise forward over the next few years, so if anyone has the relevant skills to assist then please send an email expressing interest to info@socialfirmsuk.co.uk
We look forward to seeing as many locals in our new and different shop as possible!
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*A Social Licence is a commercially licensed business but between two social enterprises rather than the private sector. Wholefood Planet is a social licence opportunity developed and offered by Social Firms UK, the national support agency for Social Firms around the country. It is a wholefood retail outlet business based on the model of Daily Bread Co-operatives in Northampton and Cambridge. For more information about Wholefood Planet see www.wholefoodplanet.com
Wholefood Planet Norwich CIC is the first Wholefood Planet retail outlet to open under social licence in the UK. It is a Social Firm company created under partnership by Norfolk County Council and Norwich City College. For more information see www.wholefoodplanet.com/norwich or call Kevin Joyce, the manager, on 01603 457093.