Best in Organic Celebrated at Annual BOOM Awards

Excellence in the organic industry was celebrated this week with the winners of the prestigious Best of Organic Market Awards being announced.

Better known as the BOOM Awards, following a rigorous judging process, the winners were announced at a special ceremony in Bristol.

The BOOMs, which are the UK’s only organic awards, honours the brands, businesses and people behind the UK’s organic industry and was open to all certified organic businesses in the UK. The awards are run by Soil Association Certification in partnership with headline sponsor, Huboo.

Judging was by a panel of experts, including Telegraph columnist, chef and food writer, Xanthe Clay, chef, food and travel writer and broadcaster Romy Gill, and Bake-Off contestant, chef and TV presenter, Briony May Williams, and food expert and TV presenter Andy Clarke.

The awards include a category voted for by the public, The Nation’s Favourite, which celebrates the best-loved organic product of the year. This year, it went to Clearspring for its Organic Tofu – Silken & Smooth. They received the highest number of votes from a public vote, beating off some tough competition including Freedom Brewery Helles Lager; Grass Roots Dairy Organic Salted Butter and Aspall’s Organic Cyder Vinegar.

The Lifetime Achievement which went to Iain Tolhurst, from Tolhurst Organic, who recently received an MBE for Services to Agriculture in the King’s Birthday Honours List.

Winner of Winners which went to Brown Cow Kefir Fermented Yoghurt while the Rising Star was awarded to Sinead & Adam – Aweside Farm. The couple upped sticks from their careers and home in London to start an organic farm in Arlington, East Sussex, where they have transformed 4.5 acres of ex-arable land into an ecologically thriving smallholding.

Soil Association Commercial & Marketing Director, Alex Cullen, commented: “We’re thrilled to announce the winners, who truly represent the best that organic has to offer. Organic farming and production offers vital solutions for climate and nature, which is why we’re so excited to see these products making an impression with the public. New and diverse representatives are appearing all the time, and we’re proud to celebrate them here. We’ve heard so many of their fantastic stories working with sustainable businesses.

“These are the people who make the system work and draw other people in. It’s thanks to them that we’re so hopeful for the future, and we’re thrilled we’ve been able to recognise them. This drive to innovate means the organic market remains popular and resilient. We’ve been so lucky to work with such a dedicated and expert panel of judges, who worked through hundreds of shortlisted products and entries to with the unenviable task of making the key decisions.”

Planet Organic Relaunches Online after Chain was Rescued

Planet Organic has announced its ecommerce store has now been relaunched following its recent rescue.

After going into administration before being bought by original founder Renée Elliott, Planet Organic says it is delighted to announce the relaunch of its online store after a three-month hiatus.

With a simplified offering, the Planet Organic website will no longer offer fresh foods, but instead will prioritise its grocery emporium and health and bodycare collections. Visitors to the site will be able to peruse a wide range of organic products from a host of innovative and sustainable brands. The Planet Organic website’s core aim is to make shopping consciously easy.

Commenting on the relaunch, Renée said: “We’re delighted to once again bring the mission of Planet Organic online. Making our organic offerings available on our website means people can shop our products not only through our ten stores, but also across the whole country. We’re excited to return to our focus on organic and our passion for sourcing new products for our customers.”

Planetorganic.com offers an extensive range of organic staples, baking essentials, Japanese products, baby products, keto, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and plant-based foods. Alongside this, the online organic supermarket stocks a selection of vitamins, supplements, fitness items, skincare, haircare, suncare and makeup products.

Suma Wholefoods joins Business Declares

Suma Wholefoods has taken a firm stance on the climate emergency by joining Business Declares.

The Yorkshire-based worker-owned co-op has become the latest member of the rapidly-growing network of businesses who acknowledge the climate and ecological emergency.

Suma Wholefoods is Europe’s largest equal pay co-operative and of the UK’s leading vegetarian wholesalers and brands.

On joining Business Declares, Suma shared that they aim to reach Net Zero by 2035 by reducing their emissions and improving their impact on biodiversity.

Ben Pearson, Sustainability Reporting coordinator at Suma, says: “Here at Suma we have always taken our commitment to people and the planet seriously. As a workers co-op, we have tried hard to put environmental and social goals at the heart of everything we have done since we were founded over 40 years ago.

“We recognise we are facing a climate catastrophe and that the world around us is rapidly changing. There is a real and unpredictable risk of the current systems that maintain our planet will shift, driving catastrophic changes in our environment and, with it, insecurity and conflict. That’s why we are declaring a climate and ecological emergency and adding our voice to Business Declares, a fast-growing network of purpose-driven businesses who are committed to specific and meaningful actions to make a difference.”

Planet Organic founder in rescue of retail chain

After falling into administration, Planet Organic has been acquired by the company whose shareholders include its founder, Renee Elliot.
It was confirmed earlier this week that Will Wright and Chris Pole from Interpath Advisory were appointed joint administrators to Planet Organic Limited. And since then, Interpath has announced that had sold Planet Organic to Bioren Limited, whose shareholders include the founders of Planet Organic, Renée and Brian Elliott.
In a statement, Interpath said that the future of Planet Organic, the UK’s first fully certified organic supermarket chain, has been secured after administrators sold the majority parts of the business and its assets to Bioren. The deal will see 10 Planet Organic stores continue to trade in locations throughout London, safeguarding 194 jobs in-store and 71 jobs in the head office.
Sadly, it was confirmed that four stores were not included as part of the transaction and will close with immediate effect. The statement added that it is therefore with regret that the joint administrators have made 64 redundancies, adding that the joint administrators will be providing support to those impacted as a matter of priority.
Will Wright, Head of Restructuring at Interpath Advisory and joint administrator, commented: “Planet Organic is a well-respected brand with wonderful stores and hard working people that genuinely care about the customer experience, which is why over the years it has grown a very loyal customer base.”
Gareth Slater, Director at Interpath Advisory, who led the sales process, added: “After a competitive process, we’re delighted to have concluded this transaction, which will see the Planet Organic name continue to trade and, importantly, protects a large number of jobs. We know that the new owners have exciting plans for the business and we wish them the very best for the future and look forward to seeing the business go from strength to strength.”
Founded in 1995, Planet Organic has grown over the past 28 years to become the UK’s largest chain of Soil Association certified organic shops, operating from 14 sites across London and the South East of England. Shortly after the end of the pandemic, the company’s directors embarked on a new growth phase that required significant restructuring and changes within the business. While the underlying business is strong and the company’s stores were largely profitable, the business as a whole was lossmaking, which ultimately led to the appointment of the administrators.
Looking ahead, the directors of Bioren plan to return to Planet Organic’s vision and values, reinvigorating the business by celebrating its mission, ‘To promote health in the comunity’, and to renew training and culture, with the aim of inspiring people to eat well and create personal health and vitality while supporting the earth’s health and biodiversity.

Vegan Life Live Returning Next Year

Vegan Life Live, one of the most successful vegan events on the calendar, has announced that it will be returning in summer 2023 as organisers Prime Impact joins forces with original vegan event organisers VegfestUK to co-host the event.

Taking place on 24 and 25 June, the vegan extravaganza will be held at the iconic Alexandra Palace in North London with over 200 exhibitors, alongside cookery demos, talks and presentations and entertainment.

The show is set to retain its original family-friendly broad scope feel that welcomes all comers to experience the benefits of plant-based living, whilst delivering a fresh set of exhibitors, speakers and entertainers, with the addition of music and a stage, plus conference facilities to allow a focus on health and wellbeing in and amongst the general festivities associated with mid-summer.

“Music, dance and fun and games are high on the agenda for 2023,” says organiser Tim Barford, from VegfestUK, “and an emphasis of fun and a feel-good factor is even higher, in line with our original vegan events 20 years ago. We celebrate two decades of vegan events in 2023 and what better way to do that by joining forces with Prime Impact to deliver one of the high spots of the year on the vegan calendar.”

“Vegan Life Live 2023 aims to deliver a high energy experience welcoming everyone interested in plant-based living, from the vegan curious to accomplished veterans,” adds Keith from Prime Impact. “Vegan Life Live is recognised for attracting a diverse audience and, in joining forces with VegfestUK, the 2023 show will benefit from a wealth of experience and know how to further expand its appeal. Together, our focus will be on delivering a fun filled entertaining weekend where new culinary skills can be learned as we celebrate a vegan summer party like no other. Known as the people’s palace, Alexandra Palace, is a not only beautiful venue that delivers a real feel-good factor but is one of the most accessible venues in London. Come and join the party!”

Vegan Life Live is at Alexandra Palace weekend of 24 and 25 June 2023, with further information on the website www.london.veganlifelive.com