Planet Organic expands in London

Planet Organic supermarket, the largest retailer of natural, organic food, produce and lifestyle products in the United Kingdom, has opened two more locations. The company now has five branches in London including the new ones in Islington and in Muswell Hill. Planet Organic has gained recognition as a pioneering force in the retail field of the United Kingdom not only for popularising natural and organic food, but also for being the first high-street retailer to offer an entirely bio-degradable, carbon-neutral alternative to the plastic carrier bag.

Planet Organic has plans to open further stores.

(Picture: Planet Organic, Muswell Hill)

The new opening in Islington does not only make organic and natural food more accessible, but is also a means of bringing local communities together, according to Brian Elliott, MD of Planet Organic. Continuing that Islington is one of few areas in London where a sense of community is preserved, the company aims at protecting and nourishing the relationship between the independent shopkeeper and customers. Planet Organic provides a stop for lunch and a place for locals to meet and also has plans to form relationships with independent businesses like nurseries and local charities in Islington.

Planet Organic’s offerings target local health-conscious and environmentally-savvy consumers and therefore Islington was chosen for its existing eclectic eateries and specialist food shops. The 460 square meter Islington store, situated on 64 Essex Road, N1, seats 30 people in its in-store café and is manned by a 40-strong team. It was opened on September 9th, 2008.

Just a month before, on August 5th 2008, the company opened a store at 111-117 Muswell Hill Road. The store on almost 400 square meters has room for 30 people in its in-store café and is managed by 40 employees. Parking is available for 80 cars. Planet Organic now has five outlets -  on Westbourne Grove, on Torrington Place, in Fulham, on Muswell Hill Road and in Islington. All stores are open seven days a week.
(Photo: Planet Organic founder Renee Elliott)

Planet Organic sells all natural foods, 90% of which are fully organic and all of which are additive, GMO and hydrogenated fat-free. The range includes fruit and vegetables, artisan confectionary, wheat and wheat-free bread and cakes, wild, line-caught and organically farmed fish, fresh, free-range and organically reared meat, food gift hampers, wines and fresh juices, dairy and dairy-free yoghurts, ice-creams and milk. Baby products, paraben and synthetic-free beauty products, books, freshly-prepared food to eat-in or takeaway at the in-store café and eco-friendly household products are also available. Food deliveries are offered to home or workplace anywhere in the UK. (Photo: Planet Organic in Westbourne Grove)

Planet Organic was the UK’s first fully certified organic supermarket of its kind when it first opened its flagship store in Notting Hill, London, in 1995. Ken Livingstone, the former Mayor of London, praised Planet Organic for “setting a prime example for other retailers to follow” and for “tackling a key issue in society today”. Planet Organic has won many awards including Soil Association Independent Organic Retailer of the Year 1997 and 1998, Highly Commended Store Award 1999 and 2000, Retail Design Award 2001, Natural Products Annual Industry Award for Best Large Store 2004, and the Soil Association Organic Industry Awards for Best Large Organic Store 2005. Planet Organic is also the first and, so far, only high-street supermarket to launch a new, entirely compostable and biodegradable plastic-free carrier bag, which – upon its first week of being introduced – decreased the volume of carrier bags used in all of its stores by 75%. (Photo: Third Planet Organic supermarket in Fulham)

The foundation of the first Planet Organic supermarket on 500 square meters was considered to be a sensation in 1995. The next store on 400 square meters was opened in June 2000, followed by the third branch in July 2004. Monthly in-store talks by local therapists and health experts are being aimed at as well as well as mother and baby coffee mornings.The American Renee Elliott (44) is one of four directors. Her areas of responsibility are development of the product range and staff training. By now around 200 full-time and part-time employees work in the five shops and in the administration. “We carry out regular training and further training for all our employees,” she explains. Her husband Brian (50 years old) joined the management a few years after Renee Elliott became a managing director.

The Planet Organic stores stock 9,000 products, of which 5,000 are food items. By now, 90 % are organic which is approaching the upper limit. “We can't get organic fish, algae, gluten free noodles and special cereal bars,” says René Elliot. Whilst Irish salmon with organic certification is available on the cold shelves, they try to ensure that the other pre-packaged fish on sale is from unthreatened species.

The big cosmetics and food supplements department (photo in Fulham) and a bistro are integrated parts of the Planet Organic concept. In the bistro various dishes of the day, salads, cakes and juices, await you or are prepared for you. Freshly pressed juices mean there are many fruit and vegetable mixtures available. 22 juices are on sale, ranging from apple, orange, carrot and ginger to juiced wheat grass (picture below). The bistro in Fulham can seat around 30 people, and the windows from floor to ceiling invite the customer to sit and look out into the street or to read the newspaper in a comfortable ambience. The busiest times are the lunch hour and in the afternoon after mothers have fetched their children from school or kindergarten. The well laid out and inviting fruit and vegetable department is located near the entrance.

In cosmetics, you notice a high proportion (20 %) of products manufactured by German companies: Dr.Hauschka, Lavera and Weleda have a wide range of products that are readily bought, according to the lady in charge. In the natural remedies section you find a wide selection of products by the Swiss firm Bioforce Dr. Vogel. English companies producing skincare cosmetics are Green People and Ren Skincare that each manufactures a wide range of shampoos, skincare, deodorants, toothpaste and babycare articles.

The Planet Organic stores

Tip:

www.planetorganic.com