WELLINGTON – A THRIVING COMMUNITY
Green agenda
The Little Green Pantry, 2 Crown Street, Wellington, TF1 1LP www.thelittlegreenpantry.co.uk
£10,000 High street start up grant awardee
Kelli King launched her Little Green Pantry business in 2019 and last year – aided by a £10,000 empty unit incentive package through Telford & Wrekin Council’s Pride in Our High Street programme – she moved the business from Wellington Market to Wellington High Street. Q: What is the Little Green Pantry? A: We are based on the principle of zero waste shopping; our food and household products are sourced locally where possible – reducing carbon emissions from transport – and supplied loose or in recyclable or reusable packing. We encourage our customers to bring their own containers where possible. There’s been a tremendous response from people, which is why I decided to expand to a high street shop unit. It is four or five times bigger than my market stall but I have been much busier than I could ever have expected. People really want to be able to shop more sustainably. People also want to be able to shop locally. That started during the Covid crisis, when we weren’t travelling, but I see in my own shop how people really enjoy being part of a local shopping community. They like having a personal relationship with shop keepers and meeting their friends while they are out and about. Q: How broad is your product range? A: We sell all kinds of dry goods – rice, lentils, grains, cereals, pasta. We also have a baking section with flours, chocolate and other ingredients as well as a herb and spices range. And we have ecologically-friendly cleaning and laundry products that have proved very popular with our customers.
Q: Can you really shop sustainably on the high street? A: Going green is easier and more affordable than you might think. More and more people are discovering just how easy it is and have really taken to the idea of bringing their own reusable containers when they come shopping. It is important to make sure we are competitive and I regularly carry out comparisons with the local supermarkets to ensure we match their prices or even offer a slight discount.
Q: Can other high street businesses do more to become greener? A: I am also a member of a group working with the town council to make Wellington a plastic-free community, encouraging traders to reduce single use plastics. There has been a lot
of support and now, as part of Pride in Our High Street, Telford & Wrekin Council has launched a series of £500 ‘eco’ grants to help high street businesses become more sustainable.
TOTALLY TELFORD
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