Infinity Foods Workers Co-operative

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Infinity Foods Workers Co-operative
Infinity Foods
Company type Worker co-operative
Industry Wholesaler Retailer
Founded1971 (1971)
Headquarters
Brighton, East Sussex
,
United Kingdom
Area served
United Kingdom
Products Whole food, organic food and natural products
Website www.infinityfoodswholesale.coop www.infinityfoodsretail.coop

Infinity Foods Workers Co-operative Ltd., is an independent wholefood business based in Brighton, [1] specializing in vegetarian, Fairtrade, organic, ethical, [2] and natural food and products. [3]

Contents

History

1971–1985: Origins and growth

In 1971, Peter Deadman, Jenny Deadman and Robin Bines, opened Infinity Foods, a small retail shop located in a converted terraced house on Church Street, Brighton. [4] It was an alternative food retailer, selling organic and natural foods. [5] A growing demand for organic food as a lifestyle choice was reflected the organic farming growth in the 1970s. [6]

In 1973, the shop moved to its current site on North Road, Brighton, [7] where it opened a wholesale operation and bakery [8] [ better source needed ]. Infinity Foods operated informally as a worker cooperative. This is a business where the employees are the owners and collectively manage the company. They have a democratic say in decision-making and share the profits generated by the business, controlling their own workplace through shared ownership and governance. [7]

It was formalized legally as a worker cooperative in 1979 under the regulations of the Industrial Common Ownership Movement and established as Infinity Foods Cooperative Ltd. [9] a company owned and collectively managed by its workers. [10]

In 1985, a separate wholesale division of the business, Infinity Foods Wholesale, was established and now operates from a warehouse outside of Brighton in Shoreham-by-Sea. [7]

Food Surplus Redistribution

Food surplus redistribution is an attempt to reduce food waste at source. Surpluses can arise for different reasons including food incorrectly labelled, over-ordered, over-supplied, obsolete seasonal stock and damaged packaging. [11] Infinity Foods contributes food and goods to food distribution charities in Brighton [2] including Brighton and Hove Food Partnership. [12]

Certifications

The Soil Association Certification. The Soil Association is the UK's largest organic certification body, offering comprehensive standards for a wide range of products including food and drink. [13]

References

  1. ↑ Siegle, Lucy (June 8, 2007). "Infinity Foods and beyond ..." The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077.
  2. 1 2 Challis, Chris (July 1, 2011). "Infinity Foods 40th Birthday, Jubilee Square, Brighton, July 2". The Argus.
  3. ↑ "Infinity Foods: Ethical model has driven food specialist for 41 years". Financial Times. July 2, 2012. Archived from the original on March 26, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Infinity Foods, North Rd". North Laine History.
  5. ↑ Smith, Dominic (November 7, 2014). "Reliable 100 organic food". The Argus.
  6. ↑ Inder, Jon (July 25, 2023). "The History of Organic". Greenlife.
  7. 1 2 3 "Infinity Foods: Ethical model has driven food specialist for 41 years". Financial Times. July 2, 2012.
  8. ↑ Žilavec, Brane (May 2012). "Is Refined Food Really Organic?" (PDF). New Food Culture.
  9. ↑ "INFINITY FOODS CO-OPERATIVE LIMITED". Find and update company information. GOV.UK.
  10. ↑ "Types of co-ops". Co-operatives UK.
  11. ↑ "Surplus food redistribution". WRAP.
  12. ↑ "Brighton & Hove: Sustainable Food Cities Award 2015" (PDF). Brighton & Hove Food Partnership.
  13. ↑ James, Martyn. "How ethical your shopping really is: the labels you can trust and the ones you definitely can't". Times Money Mentor.
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