A grocery in Cornwall has said it has become the first independent retail and hospitality business in the county to become employee-owned.
The Great Cornish Food Store, which exclusively stocks food and drink sourced from around 200 local suppliers, has celebrated its sixth anniversary by giving workers a share of future profits and a more active role in how the company is run.
Founded by Ruth Huxley in 2016, the business has injected an estimated £8m into the local food and drink industry, and created more than 20 jobs.
The store has followed in the footsteps of its next-door neighbour at Tregurra Park in Truro, supermarket Wairose, which is part of the John Lewis Partnership - the largest employee-owned business in the UK.
It also joins the ranks of Cornish businesses to move to a staff ownership model, including Truro design agency Leap Media, Penryn marketing firm Radix Communications and Hayle-based Nixon Design.
Ms Huxley said: “The store is in great shape and we have an incredible team, who very much deserve a boost after all the challenges they have handled so admirably over the past two years.
“I’m convinced we can really power ahead now as a purpose-driven company, becoming even more successful while preserving our values and integrity long term.”
The store’s general manager Oliver Basham will join Ms Huxley as one of the directors of the company.
Mr Basham said: ”I’m inspired by Ruth’s vision and the company ethos, and by this pioneering move to be an employee-owned company.
“It has gone down so well with all of our team, some of whom have been with the company since the very beginning. They are delighted to be more directly involved whilst being reassured that Ruth isn’t disappearing from the business.”
Waitrose Truro team manager Izzy Rickcord added: “It is encouraging to see the Great Cornish Food Store adopt the model and recognise the benefits it can bring – including higher levels of employee engagement, service and commitment.
“Ultimately, this not only has a positive impact on them as individuals, but the customers they become even more responsible for looking after too.”
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