Tower Hamlets Food Co-ops

What: A local retail and voucher based pilot enabling people on a low income and families registered with the Rose Vouchers for Fruit & Veg Project, to access organic fruit and vegetables at 45% discount and no extra cost compared to conventional fruit and veg.  The pilot is running from November 2023 to June 2025, based at a food co-ops supported by Leaders in Community at the Teviot Centre.

Where: Tower Hamlets, London

Which of the six approaches this pilot covers: Food hubs and ethical supply chains, Vouchers, Local retail

Demonstrating: Interest in organic fruit and veg over nonorganic compared to local market selling more culturally relevant options.

Story: In Spring 2023 The Women’s Environmental Network’s Just FACT programme developed the two food co-ops in Tower Hamlets, modelled on the long running St Hilda’s food co-op. 

The 2021 census revealed that Tower Hamlets has the highest rate of child poverty in the UK and high levels of health inequality. These food co-ops provide a valuable retail option in areas where there are few local retailers or supermarkets selling fruit and veg.

In November 2023 Bridging the Gap launched its first pilot addressing the lack of affordable organic fruit and veg in the immediate areas surrounding the food co-ops at Teviot Centre and Limehouse Town Hall. Both co-ops ran for one day a week, selling fruit and veg as well as other essential items. 

At the launch one customer noted:

“I love cooking with mooli, it’s perfect in a curry and I have never seen organic UK grown mooli before, so it’s very exciting.”

The produce is supplied by organic food hub Better Food Shed, with a discount of 45% applied at the point of purchase The pilot is managed by Alexandra Rose Charity, who run the Rose Vouchers for Fruit & Veg Project around the UK Rose Vouchers are also accepted at both food co-ops alongside cash and card. 

In October 2024 the pilot launched its second phase which consolidated the food co-ops to run from the Teviot Centre two days a week, as this location was found to support more customers who identified as on a low income.

Project Partners:

• Alexandra Rose Charity
• Growing Community / Better Food Shed
• Leaders in Community (Teviot Centre Food Co-op)
• Limehouse Town Hall Consortium Trust (2023-2024)

Supporters: 

• Women’s Environment Network
• Food Lives and Elaine Swan as part of UKRI research project FoodsEqual

Next steps: Expand customer base and increase number of people receiving Rose Vouchers using the Teviot Centre.