WHAT IS THE REAL FOOD STORE?

It’s about community ownership: this is your store! You can support Real Food by being a customer once the store is up and running but you can, right now, become a shareholder by making an investment.

Once you become a member, you can have a say in how the store works.

What’s the hurry?

To launch the store we need to sign the lease on the Paris Street premises by early October 2010. We cannot do this until we have sufficient investment. Then work can start on refitting and we can open as soon as possible.

If you want to invest, please do not delay. This is easy to do so please read more on the invest page.

Initiated by Transition Exeter in March 2009, Real Food is the trading name of Exeter Local Food Ltd, a Community Benefit Society. Incorporated under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 and registered with the Financial Services Authority.

Real Food is an innovative example of an alternative retail business- giving Exeter the opportunity to change the way it shops! Watch this space for information about the Community Shares Programme, with other UK based examples of similar initiatives.

  • WHY REAL FOOD?

    The arrival of a local food store in the heart of Exeter is what many local residents have said they want and exactly what our extensive and diverse network of local producers need.

    Exeter, a regional capital city, is surrounded by beautiful and productive countryside but at the moment there is no single outlet where you can find local, quality produce, with the exception of the excellent but only once weekly Farmers Market.

    The Real Food store will be:

    • a food store specialising in local, organic and fair-trade food (you will find fruit and vegetables, dairy products, meat & a range of grocery items)
    • a café using the same range of ingredients
    • an on-site local, artisan bakery
    • an upper floor community space offering a day-time and evening venue for training and talks

  • WHO IS THE REAL FOOD TEAM?

    Eight individuals with a sound mix of expertise and professional skills. All live in Exeter or in villages close to town.

    Dominic Acland
    Co-founder of Occombe Farm, a major farming and local food retail and education centre in South Devon.

    Nicola Beglin
    Chair of the Committee of Management of Exeter Community Agriculture and currently working for the DCC library service.

    John Cartridge
    Legal Advisor.

    Sarah Collier
    Career in environmental and community project development & management also as a trainer in field of corporate social responsibility.

    Christine Duff
    Co-ordinator & co-founder of OrganicARTS, an arts and education centre at West Town Farm, near Exeter; co-founder & a director of Love Local Food, she is also a qualified teacher and artist.