hiSbe: a social enterprise supermarket in Brighton, UK

This week we talked about social enterprises, a topic I love. I like kind of model as it doesn't pit those that want to make a living against these that want to work for social benefit. I also think that social enterprises offer an amazing opportunity for those that do wish to tackle social issues to do so in a way which is sustainable. Here in the UK, a lot of charitable organizations have been really struggling. Many years of austerity has taken its toll on the grant funding pots available. There is also much more competition for the same pot of money. Well social enterprises can certainly apply for grant funding, they can also generate income to support the day-to-day running of their operations.

I'd like to discuss one from my hometown - Brighton, UK. hiSbe is a social enterprise supermarket. They have completely rethought the concept of the supermarket. Instead of trying to maximize profits, they aim to make sure that employees, suppliers and customers are treated fairly. They prioritize local suppliers that operate ethically and sustainably and help them to promote and sell their products. Operating in this way would simply not be possible if they are expected to produce profits that are to be shared across shareholders like usual. Its possible for them to make decisions on what is worth making money on, and what is not.

What other great social enterprises do you know about?