Suma Wholefoods
| Worker cooperative | |
| Industry | Wholesaler |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Headquarters | Elland, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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Area served
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United Kingdom |
| Products | Whole food, Organic food and Natural Products. |
| Revenue | £40 million (2015) |
| Members | 160 employee-owners |
| Website | suma.coop |
Suma is the trading name of the Triangle Wholefoods Collective Ltd, a worker co-operative incorporated as an industrial and provident society. It was founded in Leeds in 1977 and is now based in Elland, West Yorkshire. It is the largest independent wholefood wholesaler in the United Kingdom as well as the country's largest common ownership co-operative. The co-operative specializes in vegetarian, fairly traded, organic, ethical, ecological and natural products.
Its turnover for the year ending September 2015 was reported as £40 million, ranking it 49th among British co-operatives. Sales have doubled over the past decade.
Despite its trading volume, it is notable for being Britain's largest collectively organised co-operative, in that it avoids hierarchy and practices equal pay and job rotation despite having 160 employee owners.
Suma is a fully democratic workers cooperative. All cooperative members and employees receive the same net hourly rate of pay, no matter what their job or responsibilities. All members have input into the direction and policy of the Cooperative.
The Cooperative’s policy and direction is decided by general meeting of the members. Coordinators are appointed to direct areas of the business within a flat management structure. An elected management committee of six members oversees the fulfillment of the democratically agreed business plan.
Suma has a 30-year history of working to be an equal opportunities employer. It encourages its members and employees to learn new skills, take on new responsibilities and make improvements in working practices. It appreciates the benefits of diversity in the workplace and strives to encourage it.
Since Suma was established it has only stocked vegetarian food, and has a zero tolerance policy to any goods containing animal products or derivatives. Over 30 years later it still sells exclusively vegetarian products and is committed to promoting vegetarianism as an ethical lifestyle choice. Its premises are a meat-free zone, and workers benefit from a vegetarian canteen. Not everyone who works at Suma is a vegetarian.
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Wikipedia