Look out for the pink ‘Good Stuff’ apple on products around the shop indicating some of our favourite products and suppliers. They’ve been chosen for lots of different reasons, but they’re the kind of companies we are particularly proud to be involved with and are doing business in a way that we would like to see become a lot more widespread.
Here they all are!
Food
Bioagros
In the words of founder Costas Papadopoulos: “For us, organic farming is primarily a way of life, an ideology and secondarily the object of commercial activity.” We sell their delicious vine leaves and giant baked beans, perfect for mezzes and picnics. More here
DO-IT
One of our key suppliers of bulk commodities, B Corp Dutch Organic International Trade builds a fairer, more sustainable world by increasing access to organic farming and ethical trading. Their aims include nothing less than “preservation of the earth for future generations.” More here
Essential Trading
One of the UK’s largest worker co-ops since 1971, Essential grew from two small businesses in Bath and Bristol to a major wholesaler and retailer. They specialise in ethically- and sustainably-produced, organic, vegetarian, Fairtrade and ‘free from’ foods. More here
Good Hemp
Good Hemp oil comes from seeds grown, cold-pressed and bottled at source in Devon, with a nutty flavour and rich in omega fatty acids. Hemp is a great plant for the soil, which grows easily without pesticides or herbicides, making it part of the solution to climate change. More here
Handmade Bakery
This not-for-profit worker co-op – with a lovely cafe! – resides in a warehouse by the canal in Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire. They make some of the most delicious bread you will ever eat, using traditional techniques such as long fermentation. More here
Hodmedods
Hodmedods work with British farmers to source and provide UK-grown pulses and quinoa, including long-forgotten traditional varieties like Black Badger Peas and Fava Beans – grown in Britain since the Iron Age. Their website has a wealth of recipes. More here
Ibis Rice
This supplier of rice products (cereal and rice cakes) was founded by the Wildlife Conservation Society with a mission to save the critically endangered ibis – by empowering farmers to protect wildlife. Methods include as organic farming, zero deforestaton, decent wages for growers, farming support and climate resilience support. More here
The Raw Chocolate Co
From its origins in the kitchen of their founder (and ‘chocolate wizard’), they now produce a wide range of fairtrade, organic raw chocolate goods. Committed to ethical sourcing, the company works closely with farmers and uses solar- and wind-power where possible. More here
Sky Sprouts
Organic sprouts grown in Devon in a room heated by the cold store, packed in recycled tubs and shipped in reusable crates! This family business began on a kitchen windowsill in the 1980s, and is now the UK’s biggest producer of organic sprouts. More here
Suma
Based just over the hills in sunny Halifax, Suma is the UK’s largest independent wholefood wholesaler-distributor. They are also a radical workers’ cooperative with an equal pay policy and a democratic structure, like Unicorn! More here.
Tropical Wholefoods
Pioneers of fairly-traded dried foods since the 1990s, Tropical Wholefoods still works to improve livelihoods today through direct, supportive relationships. Producers rely on solar drying, an effective, eco-friendly, affordable and time-honoured technique. More here.
True Origin
True Origin distributes Eswatini Kitchen pickles and sauces, Meru Herbs tea, and other directly-traded foods. Eswatini Kitchen began in 1991 to create employment for women, provide a market for rural families and fund youth social programmes. On the eastern slopes of Mount Kenya, Meru Herbs also focuses on sustainable incomes and women’s employment, as well as improving access to water. More here
Walnut Gatherer
This small business makes some of our most delicious cheeses – if you have never tried plant-based cheese, start here! Made with care from simple, organic ingredients, and they personally visited the farm in India that grows their cashews. Cultured right here in South Manchester and delivered weekly, packed in biodegradable packaging. More here.
Zaytoun
Zaytoun is a UK-based not-for-profit importer that pays fair prices, helps build co-ops, and strengthens livelihoods for Palestinian producers. Harvested and prepared by hand, their products demonstrate the proud heritage and culinary traditions of Palestine. More here
Zemanka Organic Bakery
A Czech bakery producing biscuits and crackers, Zemanka have a passion for bringing delicious, wholesome, well-sourced food to everyone, including people with plant-based diets or allergies. They commit to principles of circular economics – not just via organic and local ingredients, thoughtful packaging and renewable energy sources – but also using resources such as fruit pulp, spent brewers’ grains and coffee grounds. More here
Drinks
Café Rebelde Zapatista
This organic coffee is sourced directly from farming co-operatives in Chiapas who are working towards indigenous autonomy in the Mexican highlands. Their parent brand Cafe Libertad supports Kiptik, a UK-based Zaptista solidarity group. More here
Carey Juices
Juice and cider are a more recent addition to this family-run organic growing business by the River Wye. You can find much more from Whitehorn Farm in our fruit and veg section, who provide us with a wide variety of apples, pears, plums, cherries and more. More here
Cawston Press Juices
From a simple start pressing apple juice in Berkshire in the 1980s, Cawston Press now produces a wide range of fruit juices and sodas. They maintain their commitment to delicious juice, natural ingredients, decent packaging and ethical trading. More here
Crones Organic Cider
The Crone family in Norfolk has used traditional methods to make organic cider, apple juice and cider vinegar for decades. Their juice and cider have won many awards over the years, and their live cider vinegar (with ‘the mother’) is very popular for its health benefits. More here
Equal Exchange
Selling coffee, chocolate and more, Equal Exchange is a worker co-operative building an economically-just and environmentally-sound alternative to the current food system. Often going beyond fair trade and organic standards, many of their products are small farmer-grown, women-grown and/or co-operatively-grown. More here
Hampstead Tea
Assessed as ‘best cuppa’ by Ethical Consumer, Hampstead Teas are grown using organic and biodynamic methods, packed in compostable packaging, and among the first UK companies to get the FairTrade mark. Also, it’s just really great tea, and great value! The range includes black teas and herbal teas – something for everyone. More here
Little Valley Brewery
Nestled in lovely Calderdale near Hebden Bridge, this organic brewery is committed to environmentally-sound production, from ingredients through to delivery. Their wide range of beers has something for everyone, with a special nod to cycling enthusiasts. More here
Lofbergs Coffee
Really good value and great quality coffee from a family-run business. Lofbergs looks after people and planet from farm to processing to packaging, with fairtrade and direct buying, sustainable (and often organic) growing, fossil-free roasting, climate-friendly packaging and more. More here
Revolver Coffee
What began as a UK-based indie record label, this multi-stakeholder coffee co-operative now has member-producers around the world. It invests 25% of its profit into producer communities, and maintains a commitment to fairtrade, sustainable coffee production. More here
The Teahouse
This high-quality loose-leaf tea comes from farms that meet ethical trading criteria and pay workers a fair wage. All teas grow without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, etc. We sell it unpackaged and it comes to us in recycled, degradable and/or sustainable packaging. More here
Non-Food
DUNS
These children’s clothes are made from ethically-sourced organic cotton, with bold, unique, unisex prints. The Swedish company is passionate about transparency and sustainable production, and they make beautiful things for little people. More here
Friendly Soap
Making handmade soap in the beautiful wooded valleys of Calderdale, Friendly Soap sources its ingredients very carefully, in a way that maximises human and environmental welfare. Production also uses as little energy as possible and creates zero by-products. More here
Heavenly Organics
“If you can’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin.” This organic skincare range grew from a kitchen enterprise and a few lines, to over 100 products – which are still made from natural ingredients, and packaged in minimal, and recycled/able packaging. More here
Herbfarmacy
These traditional herbal preparations are handcrafted in small batches on the farm. Herbfarmacy have been growing herbs in Herefordshire for 30 years, and making award-winning organic skincare products for over a decade. More here
Jutexpo
Our long-time supplier of sustainable and durable (cotton and jute) shopping bags, this pioneering company is dedicated to reducing plastic pollution. Close connections with producers ensure responsible production methods for workers and the environment. More here
Kingfisher
The UK’s first 100% natural toothpaste and one of the first toiletries we stocked here at Unicorn, Kingfisher attempts to minimise its impact on the environment and to contribute where it can to positive projects locally and abroad, especially in Tibet. More here
Lyonsleaf Skincare
These very popular, oil-based skincare products are handmade in small batches into “little pots of wonder.” They use ethically-sourced ingredients, many of which are organic, or grown on their farm in the Mendip Hills of Somerset. More here
Mooncup Menstrual Cups
Providing one of the first reusable menstrual cups on the market, Mooncup offer a healthier, more environmentally friendly alternative to disposable sanitary products. This employee-owned business is passionate about reducing waste, and busting misogynist taboos. More here
Simply Gentle Cotton
The first organic cotton wool to be launched in the UK, Simply Gentle makes quality products from organic cotton. They source cotton from fairly-paid farmers in Tanzania, and packed in recycled or compostable materials. More here
Sindyanna Soaps
These soaps are made and cut by skilled craftsmen in traditional family-run soap houses in Nablus, from olive oil produced in Palestine. Sindyanna is run by Arab and Jewish women committed to Fair Trade principles, and profits support education for Arab women. More here
Sonett
These ecologically-sound, ethically-sourced cleaning products are also gentle and highly effective. Since 1977, Sonett has pursued its mission as an idealist entrepreneur “capable of reversing the rampant destruction of nature and turning it into new impulses.” More here
UPSO
Durable, waterproof, gorgeous bags upcycled from truck tarps. Stitched in Lancashire by solar powered sewing machines, what’s not to love? More here
