Manchester’s Unicorn Grocery workers co-operative has been named one of three finalists in the ‘Best Food Retailer’ category of the BBC’s prestigious national Food & Farming Awards 2017.
Nominated by its customers, Unicorn has been chosen as a finalist out of 528 food retailers put forward for the award.
The finalists in all nine categories were announced on Radio 4’s Food Programme on Sunday, and award judges will soon be visiting Unicorn, along with the other finalists in the category, to make their decision. The winners will be announced on 8th June at a ceremony in Bristol.
Unicorn is a wholefoods grocery located in Chorlton, South Manchester. It has been providing wholesome & affordable food, drink & household products to its diverse local customer base since it was founded as a workers co-operative in 1996. Known especially for its huge range of organic fruit and veg and storecupboard staples, it aims to trade responsibly whilst pricing competitively with the major supermarkets.
Co-op member Debbie Clarke said “we are so excited to be in the running for this award, which has previously been won by some of the most remarkable food businesses in the UK. We’re especially proud to be representing what can be achieved as a workers co-operative – a business owned and collectively run by its workers. We’re over the moon that our customers have put us forward for this, the loyalty and support we get from our community is just amazing.”
Unicorn last featured at the awards in 2008, when the co-operative won the same category jointly with Conrad Davies’ Spar in Pwllheli, Gwynedd. Since then it has more than doubled in size, growing from around 37 worker-members to 72 today.
