Seeing Positives In Difficult Times

Seeing positives in difficult times

Suma on the trail of good times ahead

Despite difficult times for some, independents on the high street seem to be doing well overall, according to wholesale and distribution co-operative Suma.

Ordering is robust as everyone has been planning ahead for what will hopefully be a busy summer, says co-op member Sophie Ziegler-Jones.

Suma showcased retail's favourite ranges and new products at NOPEX this year and took the opportunity to keep up to speed with old and new customers and suppliers.

That show and the year-round sense of excitement and innovation has meant brisk business with over 7,000 lines, including around 800 of Suma's own brand. As well as the brand's food range, these include Ecoleaf by Suma household cleaning and paper products and the ALTER/NATIVE by Suma hair and body care.

All sustainably and ethically sourced, veggie or vegan and always cruelty-free.

"Customers and end users can rely on us to do our homework so they don't have to," says Sophie.

Ecoleaf itself is undergoing a refresh, with some of the products being revamped or reformulated, and a range of new scents being introduced to this growing market as consumers look for more refill options as a way of both reducing plastic use and saving money.

"We're also rolling out packaging made from Ocean Prevented Plastic," adds Sophie. "That's waste plastic collected from coastal areas with plastic pollution issues and lacking waste management infrastructure, in turn supporting local communities by incentivising collection in exchange for payment and reducing risk to wildlife.

"Supporting innovations like this is so important to us both as an ethical co-op and in support of our extensive sustainability plan."

Another area of growth is in ingredients as people embrace cooking from scratch. Suma staples of beans and pulses, herbs and spices, grains, coconut products, and pastas are all popular.

"Wholefoods have always been at the heart of what makes Suma 'Suma' and we're pleased to see there's been no lull in people wanting to cook good food with simple, honest and quality ingredients.

"We're embracing the gut health trend too with the introduction of six new delicious kombuchas including a quirky cola flavour, perfect for the summer months, and a chilled sauerkraut and its fiery Korean cousin, kimchi."

Competitively priced, organic, seasonal and of high quality, of course.

"As you'd expect at this time of year, we're naturally seeing an increase in orders for warm weather drinks, food and ingredients. With so many plant-based and organic options available, there's so much to choose from these days."

Commerce Manager Sheree Hatton adds that alongside 'trending' health products such as kombucha, oat pasta, sauerkraut and kimchi, Suma has business issues to grapple with.

"We're having to really get our heads stuck into the ever-changing Brexit regulations that affect a wide range of our customers and categories, but we're slowly getting there," she says.

"We're working closely with those independents who are still facing challenges and will continue to offer support however we can.

"Some of the businesses we work with are seeing an uplift in footfall and sales, which hopefully is a sign of things to come for the sector."