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Recession hit health food store goes back to brewing roots
As hard pressed shoppers are forced to cut back on luxuries, the health food market is taking a hit.
However one Wellingborough family business has found that returning to it's roots may not only see it through difficult times but also draw in a whole new batch of regular customers.
Wellingborough Health Foods began on Finmere market 34 years ago as home brewing retailer Keg 9 before the enterprising Webber family saw an opportunity to branch into the growing health food market six years later.
This had established a thriving business until the credit crunch took hold last year bringing a sharp fall in the shop's sales of vitamins and supplements.
As a result, shop owner, Paul Webber has seen the business focus drawn back to his home brew retailing expertise.
Brewing your own beer and wine has typically been limited to a select group of hobbyists but as the credit crunch (lengthens and) deepens Britain is finding a new subculture of "staying in is the new going out." This is helping to broaden the home brew market.
Mr Webber said: "The health food side of the business was about 80 to 85 per cent. Now the health food has dropped down to about 60 per cent. The home brew side is picking up purely because of the credit crunch."
It is not only Mr Webber's shop that has seen this change in business. Wellingborough Health Foods is part of the UK co-operative brand The Health Store and they have seen a similar trend countrywide.
Stuart Cook, marketing manager for The Health Store explained that as a wholesaler they keep a keen eye on changing trends in the market and the company responded to the fresh demand for home brewing by adding kits to their stock only six weeks ago.
He said: "We react to our sellers so added the lines and have seen the homebrew kits absolutely fly already."
Mr Cook says overall The Health Store has kept up steady business across the broad as consumers become more selective about their purchases, so are more likely to indulge in something nice.
He added; "people are realising about product quality and may spend that little bit more on a good conditioner."
This is also the case for Wellingborough Health Foods as Mr Webber explained; "We still get a lot of health food customers. It's just they are watching their pennies.
"Whereas on the beer side we've got people coming in who'd usually buy cans of lager but will now make it. A pint of beer is three quid now in a pub. Whilst a pint with this is 45p."
Wellingborough Health Foods is also hoping to develop this side of the business after the economy picks up, by giving customers the personal touch.
He said: "The difference between us and the big stores is if they (first time brewers) have queries they can come back to us and speak to someone who knows what they are talking about."
Paul is not the only Webber to man the shop his mother, Marie, and sister, Debra, both still work part time so it is always likely that one will be on hand to answer questions.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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