Unicorn Grocery

What Unicorn Grocery does

Unicorn Grocery is a worker-owned co-operative grocery store operating from a single retail location at 89 Albany Road, Chorlton, Manchester, UK. Founded in 1996 and registered under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Society Act 2014 (No. 28242R), it employs 51-100 people and trades Tuesday through Sunday. The store retails organic fruit and vegetables, wholefoods, bread, and deli items, with all fresh produce certified organic by the Soil Association.

The company sources directly from a network of more than 20 UK and European organic growers, including farms in Merseyside, Lincolnshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Herefordshire, Cornwall, Pembrokeshire, Provence (UniVert) and Sicily (Agricoop), enabling it to offer a product range and provenance story not typically available in mainstream UK supermarkets. Its supply relationships are particularly important for bridging the UK 'hungry gap' between late winter and early summer. Operational technology is limited to a WordPress website, an online product search and price-comparison tool, a 3D virtual shop tour, gift card e-commerce, and a subsidised Shop & Drop home delivery service operated in partnership with Chorlton Bike Deliveries.

Unicorn Grocery's go-to-market is community-led: it operates without external investors, uses weekly Veg News updates, a MailChimp newsletter, social media, YouTube documentaries, and seasonal events (Apple Day, Dal Festival) to drive footfall, and supports environmental campaigns including climate strikes. Revenue is generated entirely through in-store point-of-sale grocery transactions, supplemented by online gift card sales and deli counter container charges. The company differentiates on price transparency (published comparison boards against Tesco, Asda, Waitrose, Sainsbury's and Morrisons), ethical retail practices (Fair Tax Mark, Living Wage accreditation, zero-waste deli container scheme with ~20% re-use rate), and direct-trade grower relationships.

Name

Unicorn Grocery

Legal name

Unicorn Grocery

Website

https://unicorn-grocery.coop

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Unicorn Grocery is a worker-owned co-operative operating a single organic grocery store in Chorlton, Manchester, since 1996. It serves local retail consumers with organic produce, wholefoods, bread, and deli items sourced directly from 20+ UK and European growers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organic Grocery Retail

NAICS

Supermarkets and Other Grocery Retailers (except Convenience Retailers) (44511), All Other Specialty Food Retailers (445298)

SIC

Retail-Grocery Stores (5411)

akta.pro primary industry

Organic Produce & Farm Market Retail (CRAHAEAD)

Keywords

• Organic grocery retail
• Worker cooperative grocery
• Fresh produce retail
• Wholefoods store
• Deli and bakery

Headquarters

HQ city

Chorlton

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Retail Grocery Sales: In-store retail sales of organic produce, wholefoods, bread, deli items, and grocery products. Revenue generated through physical storefront transactions with customers paying at point of sale.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Unicorn Grocery operates a single physical retail grocery store in Chorlton, Manchester, selling organic fruit and vegetables, affordable wholefoods, fresh bread, and prepared deli items. The store operates as a worker-owned co-operative with no hierarchical management, sourcing directly from UK and European organic growers.

Product overview

Unicorn Grocery is a worker-owned co-operative operating a single physical retail location in Chorlton, Manchester. The business offers a unified grocery service centered on organic produce and affordable wholefoods, with integrated prepared food offerings through its deli counter. Their product portfolio spans fresh fruit and vegetables, wholefoods, bread, and deli items, supported by services including an online price search tool, price comparison against major supermarkets, virtual store tours, recipe inspiration, and a subsidized home delivery option for accessibility customers. Gift cards are available for purchase in-store and online.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fruit & Veg

Quantifiable outcome

• Prices competitive with and often lower than major UK supermarket chains for organic produce
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kindling FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgroforestry farm in Merseyside supplying UK organic strawberries. Pioneering farm developing new growing methods. Stocks produce in conversion to organic certification. Also supplies broad beans, spring onions, fresh garlic, salad leaves, pot plants, and radicchio.
• Strawberry Fields (Lincolnshire)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPam and team at Strawberry Fields in Lincolnshire Fens supplying beetroot, strawberries, herbs, kale, cavolo nero, rocket, leeks, spring greens, celery, kohlrabi, sweetcorn, and perennial herbs. One of the main UK growers for the shop.
• Strawberry FieldscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLincolnshire-based farm supplying new season summer beetroots, chioggia candy-stripe beetroots, and a wide range of seasonal produce throughout the year.
• Lyncroft Farm (Duncan Gielty)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuncan Gielty at Lyncroft Farm in Ormskirk supplies spinach, ruby chard, herbs (coriander, dill, flat parsley), herbs, kale, cavolo nero, spring greens, cucumbers, pak choi, chillies, peppers, tomatoes, aubergines, lettuce varieties, broad beans, and spring onions. 113 acre farm.
• Libby Flintoff (Brook House Farm)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLibby and Paul Flintoff at Brook House Farm in Preston supply courgette plants, tomato plants, beet spinach, rocket, spinach beet, perpetual spinach, spring onions, cherry tomatoes, green pointy peppers, French beans, and tender leafy greens. Delivers twice weekly.
• Newfields OrganicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJohn and Rachel at Newfields Organics in Fadmoor on the North Yorkshire Moors (650ft above sea level) supply purple sprouting broccoli, Calabrese and Red Lion broccoli, cauliflower varieties, seed potatoes, potatoes (Alouette, Cara, Carolus, Twinner), sprouts, savoys, spring greens, herbs, and a wide range of seasonal produce. John received Arable Farmer of the Year at Northern Farmer Awards.
• Carey OrganicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMartin and Rachel Soble at Carey Organics in Herefordshire supply plums (Opal, Sanctus Hubertus), pears (Beurre Hardy, Louise Bonne, Merton Pride), apples (Red Devil, Rubinola, Gala), and summer fruit including Whitethorn Farm berries. Long-standing grower relationship.
• UniVert Co-operativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFellow co-operative in Provence, France (formed 1991) supplying lettuces (oakleaf, butterhead, batavia, rougette), radicchio, and seasonal produce. Direct trade relationship cuts out middleman. Critically important for bridging UK 'hungry gap' when domestic supply is limited.
• Agricoop (Sicily)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorker co-operative in Sicily, Italy supplying Femminello and Bianchetto lemons, white onions, new potatoes, spring citrus, and seasonal Sicilian produce. Long-standing close working relationship.
• Glebelands City GrowerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal grower in Sale (near Chorlton) supplying salad leaves including rocket, pea shoots, spinach, lettuce, and mustards. Key local supplier providing ultra-fresh salad lines year-round.
• Organic Pantry (Tadcaster)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJonnie and Felicity at Organic Pantry in Tadcaster supply purple sprouting broccoli, radish bunches, spring onions, and seasonal produce. Regular UK grower supplying brassicas and salad items.
• Bedlam FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarm in Peterborough supplying UK asparagus as first seasonal arrival, plus early supply of squash and pumpkins. One of several regional UK growers.
• Francis SampsoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCornish grower working a 156-acre plot in the far west of Cornwall supplying cauliflowers, kale, savoys, spring greens, purple sprouting broccoli, and winter brassicas across multiple seasons. Generations of family farming.
• Wyn EvansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrower in Pembrokeshire supplying new season UK new potatoes. Seasonal supplier for early UK potato crop.
• Worker Co-ops (Workers.coop)minorOthersAffiliation with workers.coop network representing worker co-operative movement. Displayed in website footer. Part of broader co-operative community ecosystem.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCltqM8XYXyq9aBsmEBG3YCA/featured?disable_polymer=1
• Facebookfacebook.com/unicorngrocery
• Instagraminstagram.com/unicorngrocery
• Xx.com/unicorngrocery

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Unicorn Grocery