What We Sell
- Local fresh milk / fresh bread and cakes
- Free range and organic eggs
- Organic beef and lamb
- Ham / bacon
- Wide range of general groceries
- Newspapers/magazines
- Cigarettes/tobacco
- Local produce
Stock Procurement Policy
Product range
There will be a good range of basic priced and branded goods.
The range will include healthy (low sugar, low salt) food and drink options.
Stock will include environmentally friendly products, organic and Fairtrade goods as part of the normal range.
Sourcing
Locally-grown foods and goods produced locally within a 15 mile radius will be stocked where possible, providing they are of comparable quality with goods from elsewhere, and at a reasonable price.
The purpose of this is to minimise transport, and maximise freshness, thus reducing the need for preservatives, and to support the local community.
Members are encouraged to recommend suppliers, but all contracts will be negotiated and completed by the members of the stock group on behalf of the company.
We will accept surplus produce from local gardeners providing it is of good quality and that they are registered with the Environmental Health department, at the discretion of the stock group.
Where possible, supplies will be obtained from organisations operating on principles consistent with ours i.e. not-for-profit, democratically run, community-focussed.
Pricing: Rules of thumb
Overall
We aim at an overall margin target 25%. Subjective judgements, in keeping with the above policy, are made regularly. Comparisons with other retailers are taken into account some of the time. RRP is used as a guide in all cases, but if in doubt we use the RRP.
Lower than 25% Markup
Bulk orders by volunteers: cost + 10%, plus VAT if applicable. Local producers: cost + 15% plus VAT if applicable. Cigarettes and tobacco: cost + 15% plus VAT, except price-marked, which are usually about cost + 8% or less. Some price-marked goods, but some do give a higher margin.
Around 25% Markup
“Basic” goods, environmentally sound, fairtrade and healthy foods (all of these being subjective and loosely defined areas): approx 25% plus VAT if applicable.
Higher than 25% Markup
“Luxury” goods and ‘non-necessities’ (again very subjective areas): anything between about 30% and 100% or even more, plus VAT if applicable. For example: sweets in general are around 40% or even a bit more, but small sweets for little kids around 20% or less.
Review
This policy will be monitored and reviewed on an on-going basis by the sub-committee who will give reports regularly to the Directors of the Company.