Sunderland couple take on big supermarkets with local food co-operative

Two Sunderland entrepreneurs are preparing to launch a new venture that could improve access to fresh produce and encourage people to put their money back into the local economy.

The Sunshine Co-operative CIC will aim to promote healthy, local and sustainably grown food while also advocating a sense of community between growers, producers and consumers.

It will offer fresh fruit and vegetables, sustainably sourced meat and products including cheese, honey and preserves.

As much of the produce as possible will come from providers in Tyne & Wear, Durham, Northumberland and Teesside.

The entrepreneurs behind Sunshine, Claire and partner Wojtek Bozyk, experienced local food co-operatives abroad and decided that people in Sunderland and the surrounding areas could benefit from a similar system.

Claire said: “Over recent years, the food industry has been mostly delocalised, with huge supermarket chains taking up the lion share of the market. This has caused a lot of closures in small businesses.

“However, there is a strong reaction happening against this, seeking to reinstate a pride in everything local and supporting local entrepreneurs.”

She continued: “We felt that the local food movement was too important to ignore and the benefits could make a huge difference to our community. Who wouldn’t want to support local growers and producers to make extraordinary food products that we can all savour and enjoy?”

Wojtek commented: “We felt that projects relating to the local food movement were mostly happening outside of the Sunderland area and, as residents of the city, we wanted to be able to access fresh, healthy, food that has been grown or produced in our local area.

“We are committed to playing our part in improving the area in which we live, both environmentally and economically, and through health and wellbeing.”

He added: “We believe everyone, whatever their background, has the right to live in abundance.”

The Sunshine Co-operative CIC will launch this month and operate from the Eagle Building at 201 High Street East, Sunderland.