Equal Pay Day 2024: Suma Wholefoods Celebrates Zero Gender Pay Gap and hopepunk!

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com 
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now
Today, on Equal Pay Day, we’re proud to announce that at Suma Wholefoods, there is no gender pay gap. There never has been, and there never will be. As an equal pay worker co-operative, we’re built on the belief that fairness should be at the heart of business. Every colleague here earns the same hourly rate, regardless of gender, role, or length of service.

While many organisations are grappling with how to address gender pay disparities, Suma stands as proof that a fairer system isn’t just a dream - it’s achievable and sustainable. For over 40 years, our co-operative model has shown that businesses can succeed without compromising on equality, ethics, or inclusivity.

This year, we’re also thrilled to share that Suma has been celebrated internationally as a leading example of what’s being called Hopepunk Entrepreneurship. A study featuring Suma as a case study won the prestigious ISBE and International Small Business Journal Best Paper Award for Pushing the Boundaries of Research at the 2024 Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE) conference.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The research, led by Dr Catherine Brentnall (Manchester Metropolitan University) and Serxia Lage-Arias (Vrije University, Amsterdam), explored how co-operative principles like those at Suma embody hopepunk -a concept rooted in working towards a kinder, fairer world, even in challenging times.

Suma workers in the warehouseSuma workers in the warehouse
Suma workers in the warehouse

Ross Hodgson, Suma’s Company Secretary, commented:“We are delighted to be recognised as an example of hopepunk in action. At Suma, equal pay is more than policy - it’s a core value that reflects how we think businesses should operate. This award reinforces that creating a better, more equal world isn’t just a utopian vision; it’s something co-ops like Suma are already doing every day.”

The study also highlighted that Suma’s enduring success demonstrates how co-operative models can thrive in competitive markets without sacrificing their values. For aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders, Suma’s story offers an alternative to traditional capitalist systems.

As we celebrate Equal Pay Day, we invite others to imagine - and build - a future where pay gaps are history. Equality isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s good for people, communities, and the planet.

Leeds news you can trust since 1890
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice