The woman behind Topsham's first zero-waste shop is set to open a second branch in Exeter.
Sarah Martin, Founder of Nourish plans to open her new shop in Magdalen Road, recently named among the coolest shopping districts in the world by Guardian readers, by mid-April.
It follows the success of Nourish of Topsham launched in March 2018.
Sarah said that business is booming and she has been on the lookout for an additional location.
What makes Magdalen Road so good?
The perfect opportunity arose when Phil and Stella Brock, owners of wholefood shop The Bran Tub, decided to retire.
Sarah said: “The position is spot on and Magdalen Road is a great fit for the business.
“It’s like having an entire shop on a single street; with a greengrocer, fishmonger, butcher, deli and soon a provisions store for dry goods, fresh products and environmentally friendly non consumables, astute shoppers can bypass supermarket shopping entirely if they want to.”
Dan Taylor, who owns Grocer on the Green on Magdalen Road, said that he has seen a shift away from the supermarket big shop, with shoppers looking for a more environmentally-friendly way to shop with less waste left over at the end of the week.
Sarah believes that having two stores to choose from will help customers from a wider area begin to change their shopping habits, lessening reliance on single use plastic packaging and other waste materials; the Nourish model encourages customers to bring their own reusable containers to fill.
She said: “The benefit for existing customers in Exeter who previously had to make a special journey to Topsham is that they will now be able to walk or cycle to Nourish.
"And I’m hoping we’ll attract a whole new customer base at the same time.”
Sarah has taken on a business partner. Stavros Stratas, who has an MSc in Economics and a role at Hotelbeds, is now a shareholder and director of the Nourish.
He said he was looking for just such a business opportunity. “The chance to join Sarah and the Nourish family was simply too good to pass up. I’ve been involved for some years in an advisory capacity with an agricultural start-up employing ethically and ecologically conscientious practises. However, the nature of that industry meant I never felt close enough to the end consumer.
“Coming onboard at Nourish gives me a ‘pitchside’ opportunity to engage with the general population and help drive a business, a retail movement and a way of thinking.”
With awareness of the impact of plastics on the environment growing, Nourish gives people the chance to make a tangible difference. Each individual sale is counted by the business as one piece of plastic saved; since the first shop opened, the total already equates to tens of thousands of pieces saved.
Phil and Stella Brock are retiring after 30-years with The Bran Tub and were keen for a business with a similar ethos to take on the premises.
More on brilliant independent shops
Existing staff members of The Bran Tub have been invited to stay on and be part of the new journey for the shop.
