Coming soon to Leicester
(Name to be decided)
We’re building a worker-owned, plant-based food co-op for Leicestershire — rooted in health, connection, and community.
You are invited to our next meet-up
Date: Wednesday 14th January 2026
Time: 7pm
Location: Friends Meeting House,
16 Queens Road,
Leicester LE2 1WP
We’re delighted that a co-operative member from Unicorn Grocery in Manchester will be joining us to share their experience of running a successful worker‑owned wholefood co‑op and to answer your questions.
We’re in the feasibility stage and your answers will directly influence where we open, what we stock and how we run the co‑op.
Opens a short Google Form in a new tab.
Please complete the survey by Wednesday 21 January 2026.
A vision for our food co-op in Leicestershire.
Plant‑based range of everyday essentials and fresh fruit & veg
Sourcing that’s organic and local where possible, clearly labelled
Low‑waste shopping: refills, bulk buying, and reduced packaging
Inspired by Unicorn Grocery’s proven co‑op model—adapted for our city and scale
Food should bring people together. We’re building a shop that offers a fair, honest way to buy food—centred on health, connection, and community. Worker‑owned, collectively led, and transparent about how we price, pay, and source.
Worker‑owned at the core: profits shared fairly; decisions made together; fair pay and good jobs
Community involvement: we’re exploring options (advisory roles, partnerships, grants, and possibly future community investment)
Everyone can shop; worker‑members shape priorities
Transparent pricing and clear values from day one
We want Wholefoods Grocery to be more than just a shop. We see it as a community hub — a place where you can meet, learn, and share ideas about food, wellbeing, and sustainability.We’re not setting out to compete with existing shops in a traditional sense. Our aim is to offer a new, community‑owned option that sits alongside what’s already here.Different models can coexist and serve different needs, and part of our work is to explore how this can happen in a constructive, collaborative way.
We’re in the feasibility stage: listening to the community, mapping local demand, reviewing supply chains, and scouting an accessible site within 4 km of the city centre. We’re exploring co‑op funds, community finance, and grants. When the groundwork is done, our group will vote on moving forward. We plan to start with around six worker‑members and grow into a community hub (and simple prepared foods) once established.
1. Share your views (survey). Help shape what products and services we prioritise, and how we run the co‑op.The survey is open until Wednesday 21 January 2026.
2. Join the mailing list. Get occasional updates on milestones, events and any future investment options.
3. Offer skills or become a supplier
Tell us if you’d like to help with outreach, research, or if you grow or make food.
Rajiv
Founding Member
Expertise: Wholefood retail, Design, IT, Catering
Contact: rajiv at rootsgrocery . co . uk
Sameena
Steering Group Member
Expertise: Community Theatre & Arts project creator and Therapeutic Play Skills Practitioner
Contact: sameena at rootsgrocery . co . uk
Tamsin
Founding Member
Expertise: Marketing, Catering
Contact: tamsin at rootsgrocery . co . uk
Please help spread the word — together, we can make this happen.