Shops / News

Zero waste shop for sale

By Milan Perera  Thursday Jun 6, 2024

Back in 2018, Grant Mercer opened a new zero-waste shop in Clifton Village, Smaller Footprints.

With a vision to contribute to “the growing rebellion against single-use packaging”, Smaller Footprints has been selling rice, pasta, beans, cereals, nuts, chocolate, loose teas, coffee beans, honey, cooking oils, flours, sugar and cleaning products – all with zero packaging.

But it is the end of the road for the shop’s current custodians, with Grant hoping that somebody will want to buy his business in order to make it even better.

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In a notice posted on the shop window, he announced that the shop “must continue” and is currently looking for new owners.

The notice said: “I am going to miss the constant flow of interesting, warm, intelligent people visiting for refills, and will be forever grateful to everyone who helped make that dream come true.

“I wish we knew the number of single-use items of plastic we’ve saved but can be pleased with ourselves, I think.

“It hasn’t been ‘just’ the packaging, we’ve supported organic foods to the benefit of the insects that would be poisoned and the soils that would be depleted.

“We’ve supported worker cooperatives with fair wage and democratic structures. We’ve supported and been supported by local independent businesses, working together to improve all our ways.”

The potential buyer is set to inherit a profitable and smooth-running operation with a large potential for growth.

With a five-star food hygiene rating and the only “grind-your-own” peanut butter machine in Clifton Village, the zero-waste shop boasts of a higher retention of customers.

The 747sq ft space has an annual rental price of £14,000.

The notice added: “I am confident that Smaller Footprints will go on, and hopefully it will be better in many ways than it is now.

“I’ll keep you updates and, no doubt, will be thanking you many times over between now and when I eventually hand over.”

Main photo: Martin Booth

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