press releases...
Save our planet by eating your greens
16 November 2007
Multiple-award winning retailer Planet Organic (www.planetorganic.com) was the UK's first organic supermarket to open in 1995. Its staunch policy of selling only natural, wholesome, unprocessed products coupled with pro-active involvements in charitable, fair-trade and environmental issues has made it shine amongst all its other contenders.
From hearty food hampers to artisan confectionary; sumptuous wines to synthetic-free beauty products, each item is vigorously vetted to ensure that only the freshest, most flavoursome and natural ingredients are sold in store - no GM foods, no artificial flavourings, colourings or preservatives and no hydrogenated fat. Above and beyond the organic stamp of approval, Planet Organic go that extra mile to ensure that their palm oil is derived from sustainable sources; their herbs and spices are not irradiated, and that no children have been trafficked to work on cocoa plantations in terrible forms of child labour to produce their organic chocolate. Planet Organic was even the first to pioneer a plastic-free biodegradable carrier bag, in which Mayor of London Ken Livingstone commended the company for "setting a prime example for other retailers to follow". Such is the care taken in both product placement and in applying new ways to operate as a greener business that every customer can rest assure that when they buy from Planet Organic, not only are they contributing to a healthier lifestyle, but an ethical and environmentally efficient one too.
Planet Organic has prospered from the rise in the UK organic market, which last year enjoyed a sustained growth of 22% and breached the £2bn mark for the first time in 20061. The UK is now the third largest organic market in the EU after Germany and Italy. Organic food was originally a middle class preserve, but market research indicates that over half of people in the most disadvantaged social groups now intentionally buy organic food, with optimum health being the primary incentive.2 This prosperity over recent years has translated into the opening of a further two London-based Planet Organic stores in addition to its flagship supermarket in Notting Hill. There are imminent plans to open further stores within the city's key villages and neighbourhoods in the near future.
"We've done it for 12 years, and it wasn't even newsworthy then. Now you get a company banning a nasty ingredient from their private label goods and it's all over the papers and television," said Renée Elliott, founder of Planet Organic. "Our policy has always been to promote health in the community through selling only wholesome, unprocessed produce that is both natural and delicious as it is ethical and green.
"I think businesses have a big responsibility to set positive examples by being as environmentally pro-active wherever they can. Through replacing our plastic carriers with a biodegradable alternative to pushing our seasonal and local produce to increase consumer awareness on food miles, we hope that we've initiated positive lifestyle changes that not only promote health and well-being for all the family, but have also encouraged people to adopt an ethical and eco-friendly stance on shopping."
Organic Facts
Health plays a key role in the consumer's decision to buy organic: 66% of organic purchasers believe it is better for them and their family3.
Scientists found that rats fed on organic food were slimmer, slept better and had stronger immune systems than those fed on conventionally grown produce4.
Research shows that no other food has higher amounts of beneficial minerals, essential amino acids and vitamins than organic food5.
No hydrogenated fats, artificial additives, saccharin, monosodium glutamate, salt replacements, other flavour enhancers, colourings or preservatives are allowed in organic food.
The best method of reducing exposure to potentially harmful pesticides would be to consume organically grown food, where its use is avoided6.
Consumers who buy organic food think it tastes better(as do the discerning chimpanzees at Copenhagen Zoo who chose organic bananas over conventional ones)7.
The global market for organic food and drink totaled £19.3bn in 2006 - an increase of £2.6bn8.
Notes to editors
About Planet Organic
Planet Organic (www.planetorganic.com) was the UK's first fully certified organic supermarket of its kind when it first opened its flagship store in Notting Hill, London, in 1995. It revolutionised the retail scene by offering only natural, unprocessed organic food, drink and lifestyle products that are kind to the environment and promote fair-trade. Each item is hand-picked and carefully chosen; great consideration is taken on the quality of ingredients and how the produce is grown and consequently transported. Every customer can have good faith in the fact that, when they buy from Planet Organic, they are not only contributing to a genuinely healthier and happier lifestyle, but an environmentally friendly and ethical one too.
Planet Organic is also the first (and, so far, only) high-street supermarket to launch a new, entirely compostable and biodegradable plastic-free carrier bag, which - upon its first week of being introduced - decreased the volume of carrier bags used in all of its stores by 75%. Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, praised Planet Organic for "setting a prime example for other retailers to follow" and for "tackling a key issue in society today".
Food chains are responsible for one-third of all goods dumped in landfills. Planet Organic prefers to send its surplus food to people in need via the charity Fareshare. This enables socially committed organisations to release budgets for important work and rehabilitation programmes that will make a real difference to the community.
Planet Organic has won many awards including: Soil Association Independent Organic Retailer of the Year 1997 and 1998; Highly Commended Store Award 1999 and 2000; Retail Design Award 2001; Natural Products Annual Industry Award for Best Large Store 2004, and the Soil Association Organic Industry Awards for Best Large Organic Store 2005.
Planet Organic sells all natural foods, 90% of which are fully organic and are additive, GMO and hydrogenated fat-free. These include:
fruit and vegetables
artisan confectionary
wheat and wheat-free bread and cakes
wild, line-caught and organically farmed fish
fresh, free-range and organically reared meat
luxury food gift hampers
wines and fresh juices
dairy and dairy-free yoghurts, ice-creams and milk
baby products
paraben and synthetic-free beauty products
books covering everything, from nutrition to juicing
delicious, freshly-prepared food to eat-in or takeaway at the in-store café
eco-friendly household products
Planet Organic also offers:
One-to-one health and bodycare consultations.
A well-informed team to answer any questions.
Food deliveries to either your home or workplace, anywhere in the UK, with next day delivery for customers residing in London.
Service and delivery charge for orders over £100 within London is £3.50. All other orders are £7.00. For call deliveries, mail order and hampers call 020 7221 1345.
In the pipeline, Planet Organic will be:
Opening further stores in London.
Hold monthly in-store talks by local therapists and health experts on how to lead a healthier lifestyle.
Host mother and baby coffee mornings to bring the local parenting community together.
About the founder
Planet Organic was founded in 1995 by former American wine journalist Renée Elliott, whose passion for natural food combined with a staunch sense of responsibility for the environment and the indigenous communities commonly exploited by the conglomerate trade, became the very basis upon which the UK's first ever organic supermarket was built. Today, Planet Organic has grown to be the UK's largest independent organic retailer.
Renée has worked in the organic industry for 14 years and is an elected general member of the Soil Association council since 1999. Such is her expertise that she previously acted as government advisor on contentious GM issues. Renée is also a member of the Multiple Retailers Working Group and continues to act as an advisor on organic issues to a major US fund. Since her appointment to the government's Organic Action Plan Committee in 2004, the UK has seen a 46% rise in organic produce. Renée also co-authored The Planet Organic Cookbook - Naturally Good Food (DK Organic, May 2001).
Renée says: "Shopping, cooking, and eating the Planet Organic way is as much about pleasure as good health. We celebrate food. My life is dedicated to healthy eating and sustainable agriculture whether I'm at work or it's my day off."
Born in Pascagoula, Mississippi, in the deep south of America and brought up in Massachusetts, Renée, 43, is married, pregnant and lives with her two children in West London.
For more information, food samples, high-res photography and other press enquiries, please contact: Christian Konig, email Christian@samphireul.com Ana Catarina de Neiva, email catarina@samphireuk.com, or Andrea San Pedro email andrea@samphireuk.com Tel (+44) (0) 207 6168484, Mobile: (+44) (0) 7710 146740