It’s 2023 and it’s a brand-new year! We hope you all enjoyed a little bit of a break over the Christmas holidays and you’re feeling refreshed.

We’ve certainly got a lot to be excited about, but we simply couldn’t start the year without taking a look back at 2022 – and to extend our genuine and heartfelt thanks for all your support in 2022.

Here are some of the highlights from us.

Award wins – and a true badge of honour!

Not one, but two award wins for us – in just two weeks!

In September, our Brockenhurst store won the Sustainability Retailer of the Year Award at the at the 2022 Convenience Awards. This was closely followed by the Most Sustainable Retailer Initiative of the Year Award for an Independent at the 2022 Retail Industry Awards, which we collected on 20th September in London.

The judges praised the amazing work we have done with local suppliers that has made real progress on improving sustainability.

Thank you for the amazing work the Brockenhurst Team put in, brilliantly supported by Sonjia Cooper (Store Manager) and Dani Ruiz-Perez (Area Manager), in helping us achieve these wonderful accolades.

A new Fair Oak Zero Waste

Last year also saw us introduce our second Zero Waste store in Fair Oak – adding to the one we already have in Brockenhurst. This means two of our six stores are now operating as zero waste and we’re hoping for more soon!

But what does this mean? Well, if you visit our Fair Oak and Brockenhurst stores, you might notice a difference in our containers and dispensers, which use less plastic. This allows our customers to simply buy what they need, wasting less, spending less – and it’s kinder to the environment.

If you’re near our Fair Oak or Brockenhurst stores, why not come and see for yourself?

Solent Mind support – and thank you

We’ve been working in partnership with Solent Mind, which does an amazing job providing mental health support across the region.  

In 2022, every store got behind the “active minutes challenge” supported by Gym Tin who did exercise classes for customers and colleagues in all 6 stores, generating 16,000 active minutes overall and raising over £2,500.

Also, the management team did some great work in helping transform an area of Solent Mind’s garden centre, Mayfield Nurseries.

We are projecting to have raised £10,000 by the end of our two years with them which is incredible! Thank you Solent Mind for everything you do, it’s a pleasure to partner with you.

More shoutouts and thank yous.

We must also give a special mention to our wonderful suppliers who create some fantastic products all made locally.

Wishing you all a very prosperous New Year – and watch this space for more exciting news coming your way in 2023!