Action Briefing Aug 2004 - Sept 2004
	The Newsletter of Birmingham Friends of the Earth

Warehouse Focus: The One Earth Shop

Action Briefing is running a series of features introducing the unique organisations and businesses with whom Birmingham Friends of the Earth are fortunate enough to share the Warehouse.

The One Earth Shop was started by Ian Bailey in the early eighties and has now been, in one form or another, a tenant of the Warehouse for over 20 years.
We took over the shop in August 1990. It's still 100% vegetarian and stocks a good range of wholefoods, vegan, wheat-free, organic and Fairtrade goods, although there is less emphasis on wholefoods now as demand for convenience foods has grown.

In the early days we sold organic loose fruit and vegetables but found that the turnaround was not quick enough, so now we do a box system where people order and collect their fruit and veg.

About five years ago we started to sell non-leather footwear from a company called Ethical Wares. This has proved quite successful as I think we are the only place in Birmingham where you can try on this type of footwear before buying!

Keeping a shop is quite a struggle at times. The supermarkets are taking on more and more lines that were once unique to shops like ours. However, we believe we still have a place providing a more personalised service as well as information on dietary requirements. And, unlike the supermarkets, we believe food is a political issue and we support boycotts of unethical companies wherever possible.

Thank you to everyone who has supported the shop over the years. To contact us call 0121632 6909 and ask for the shop.

Tina Rickards and John Beddowes