Suma Wholefoods wins Queen’s Award
Friday, 21 April 2017
Suma Wholefoods have gained the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the International Trade category.
Many people from Hebden Bridge work or have worked for Suma, a company which has longtime connections with our town and its wholefood co-operatives, starting with Aurora Wholefoods in the 70s and 80s.
The Queen’s Awards are amongst the most prestigious awards in UK, designed to celebrate outstanding achievements in business. Suma has been recognized for a strong, continued growth in international sales as well as its co-operative ethos and great employment benefits, like equal pay for all workers and flexible working. This recognition is timely as Suma is currently celebrating its 40th anniversary year; so now there is even more reason to celebrate.
Suma continues to be an ethical wholefood wholesaler serving both the UK and export markets with a range that extends to over 7000 lines of ambient, chilled and frozen goods. With a growing workforce of more than 250 people, the business contributes to local employment in the Calderdale area, especially Hebden Bridge, and brings many benefits to the local economy, such as providing £2,500 worth of food to support the victims of the Boxing Day floods that struck the area on Boxing Day 2015.
Stephen Newton, a member of Suma’s thriving International Sales Team, said, “We’re really thrilled at the amazing growth of our international sales, and that we can make delicious, ethical vegetarian food available to a wider audience. By winning this award we’re proud to prove that our local business can hold its own against the big players in international trade.”
Suma is an outstanding example of a workers' co-operative, having thrived for 40 years.