‘We should make Bristol the beacon of change for other cities’

Good Sixty was founded by Chris Edwards to support small retailers and producers specialising in food and drink.

The aim was to bring businesses together to enable small independents to compete with supermarkets and national veg box schemes as a sustainable online grocery solution.

Consumers can buy from a variety of local shops online in a single purchase through Good Sixty and have the order delivered to their door via eco-friendly cargo bikes.

What inspires you to get up in the morning and go to work?
The people and businesses we work with. The independent food community are a fantastic bunch of characters with great stories to tell so there is never a dull moment. I grew up on Gloucester Road and my favourite thing to do as a kid was to spend most of the weekend strolling up and down it, getting to know the shop owners, enjoying the great food on offer. And probably getting into a spot of mischief along the way.

It is now such a real privilege to bring this love of my local area into my day job – I have just loved supporting and getting to know so many more great traders all around the city.

Good Sixty deliveries are made via eco-friendly cargo bikes

What does a Better Bristol mean to you?
I believe that high street trader communities are the heartbeat of where we live and doing everything to support them and keep them alive is more vital now than ever.

The local shops are the backbone of a community. Small independent retailers are more reliant on local produce and local suppliers, rather than national or regional, which means that they help stimulate the local economy more than national chains. This helps to retain and reinvest income in the area in which they operate. Their passion, expertise and the quality of their produce are second to none.

Good Sixty’s vision is to help create wealthier, better-connected communities by helping independent markets, food stores and artisan producers thrive. A better Bristol would see this vision manifest.

If you could pick one thing to change in Bristol, what would it be?
Reducing our carbon footprint and making Bristol the beacon of change for other cities.

UK cities have suffered from illegal levels of air pollution since 2010, with particularly dangerous levels of nitrogen dioxide, which comes mainly from diesel vehicles.

It should be Bristol’s key mission to help tackle the twin problems of air pollution and congestion that blight cities and make safer and sustainable communities for all.

How do you feel you, as an individual, can make a difference?
I believe we can all make a small difference when it comes to improving our carbon footprint. I try to always buy products that are locally made, contain no single-use plastic and use eco-materials that cannot harm the environment. Bristol is a figurehead for these types of products which makes it a lot easier to do your bit. Other than that, I will continue to support and mentor other startups trying to achieve revolutionary goals for the city I love.

Good Sixty brings together different independent suppliers and producers on one online shopping platform

In what ways can your company make a difference?
By making a zero-emissions last mile delivery alternative more accessible than ever, we at Good Sixty are proud to be effectively reducing the carbon footprint of our retailers and promoting a healthy lifestyle for all.

Good Sixty provides a sustainable, eco-friendly alternative to supermarket food deliveries. Replacing a single diesel van with an e-cargo bike reduces carbon emissions by up to 75 per cent. This equates to over 7.5 tonnes of CO2 pa.

What do you feel is the biggest strength of Bristol’s business community (including private, public and third sector)?
The willingness to help each other out. It’s a tight knit community compared to bigger cities, but businesses here still pack a punch and can compete with cities like London. From the food business perspective, the quality, variety and creativity of the businesses and their offering is second to none.

What do you want to see from the Bristol business community over the next five years?
It’d be great to see more collaboration between businesses working towards environmental and economic change, whether that be by working together to reduce carbon footprint, using less plastic or boosting the local economy. Collaboration and an unwavering support for our fellow Bristol businesses seems the only way to bounce back from the tricky economic climate the pandemic has brought about.

What is your biggest ambition personally and for the city as a whole?
I’d like Bristol to be the first carbon neutral city in the UK.

All photos courtesy of Good Sixty

Read more: ‘A better Bristol would include a more inclusive, independent vision for small businesses’