BigBarn has been trading for 9 years with a mission to get people out of the supermarket and shopping locally. To encourage more people to embrace our mission we are becoming a Community Interest Company (CIC). This means any profits and assets have to be ‘locked in’ for the good of our Communities of, producers on our map, and consumers using BigBarn.

BigBarn was launched in the dot com boom with a long term social ambition to change the food industry rather than make a short term profit. The Food Industry was, and still is, failing farmers by only giving them, on average, 9p in every £1 spent on food in the supermarket. And failing consumers by using marketing to increase the perception that price and convenience is more important than animal welfare, sustainable farming and food quality.

Unfortunately changing such a massive industry with its huge marketing power is difficult, especially when most consumers have almost become addicted to the one stop shop and ‘rewards points’. It is very exciting however to see that local food is now cheaper and, in many cases, more convenient!

Cheaper because by selling direct farmers can undercut supermarket prices, and more convenient as many local shops are closer. We do have to add to this convenience statement that consumers need to change their shopping list to; local and seasonal food every week (no more Australian Brussel Sprouts in July) leaving tins, cleaning products, etc, to once a month.

So, we now need to change our shopping habits and advise our friends to do the same. Tell them they can save money and encourage farmers to grow a wider range of crops. And with BigBarn’s new crop for the shop project everyone can join the food industry!

Going back to BigBarn becoming a CIC please read our CIC Statement by clicking here and leave any comments below on whether you like this idea. If you would like to support BigBarn and read about our Local Food Bond please email us here.