Former Manchester United ace Richard Eckersley launches UK’s first zero-waste supermarket
The footballer and his wife Nicola moved to Devon to set up shop - where customers fill up their own pots and jars - after being inspired by a similar store in Berlin
AN ex-Man United player and his wife have set up Britain’s first zero-waste supermarket where all packaging is banned.
Green-minded footballer Richard Eckersley, 28, and wife Nicola, 27, sell up to 200 pesticide-free products.
Much of the stock, such as oats and grains, is biked over by local farmers to Earth.Food.Love in Totnes, Devon.
But to shop there, customers have to take their own pots, jars and picnic bags which they then fill, weigh, label and pay for.
Richard added: "By far our most popular attraction of the shop is the 'grind-your-own' nut butter machines.
"Filled with both almonds and peanuts, you can re-use your nut butter jar again and again and again, each time filling it with delicious, sticky goodness that's been ground right in front of you.
Richard moved to Devon from Manchester after his final stint as a professional footballer at Oldham Athletic last season.
The couple adopted the idea after visiting a similar store in Berlin.
Defender Richard, who also played for Burnley, said: “We immediately thought, ‘Why doesn’t this exist in the UK?’
“It’s not about price for us. We don’t want to stock items for the sake of it. It has to be ethical.
“We want to live in a world where consuming doesn’t cost the Earth"
His wife Nicola, 27, was an English teacher before they both left their home to open up the store.
She said: "We are from Manchester but just thought Totnes was a great place and the right location to open the shop.
The store in Totnes, Devon, has been so successful the couple are planning to open branches in London and Birmingham.
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