Who are we?
Suma is a vegetarian wholefood collective founded in 1977 by a liberally-minded group of people who believed there was a better way to do business, and actively set out to create it. We’re also the largest equal pay co-op in Europe. We’re based in West Yorkshire.
What do we do?
As a wholesaler, we deliver vegetarian and vegan, organic, free-from, natural, healthy and responsibly sourced products to businesses and communities across the UK and internationally. We also sell our own range of food, hair and body care and home cleaning and paper products. Everything is eco-friendly, fairly-traded, sustainable and always cruelty-free. Our products are carefully sourced and guided by our ethical buying policy and extensive sustainability plan.
We are one of the largest equal pay worker owned co-ops in Europe, working together to improve our society and support our suppliers and customers. As a worker-owned co-op, everyone has an equal say in what we do and how we run our business. Additionally, we advocate for worker co-operation and build connections with other social movements.
Quick facts
| Website | www.suma.coop |
| Industry | Retail and Wholesale |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Turnover | £60 million |
| Workers | Circa 300 |
| Members | Circa 200 |
| Who are the members? | Employees |
| Governance | Elected directors |
| Pay | Equal pay |
| Legal form | Co-operative Society |
How do we operate?
We’re a worker co-op, a business owned and run by our members. We don’t have any bosses or shareholders. We, Suma’s employees workers, set the direction of the business. While we have a Board of Directors, day-to-day management and operations are organised through our Area Leaders and their teams.
Where did we come from?
We were founded when the wholefoods delivery business was taken over by 7 workers who went on to set up Suma as a co-op. Some of our founding members still work at Suma.
Why are we a co-op?
Suma was born from a passion for wholefoods, organics and veggie food. Today 90% of our products are vegan, and we supply healthy ingredients to thousands of customers across the UK and beyond. We envisage a world where everyone has access to fulfilling, meaningful, and sustainable work, achieved through a connected and inclusive worker co-operative movement. The equal pay model works – and we’re proof of that!
Lessons learned
We’re 300 regular people, in a small and often wet Yorkshire town running a warehousing and distribution operation. If we can make a success of this business model, there’s no reason other groups of people can’t do something similar and take control of their own business and lives.
