The Little Green Pantry is set to unveil new products with diversification grant support
A popular shop in Wellington which prides itself on plastic free shopping is launching a series of new healthy products thanks to a Pride in Our High Street diversification grant.
Keli King, owner of The Little Green Pantry, is using the funding to buy a new machine to produce her own brand of nut butters and a coffee grinder to sell freshly ground coffee.
She is also purchasing new jars and branded labels for the nut butters and a larger fridge to sell a wider variety of refrigerated plastic free goods,
The Little Green Panty, which received a business start-up grant through Telford & Wrekin Council’s Pride in Our High Street programme to launch on the high street in 2021, stocks a range of food and household products.
It offers environmentally friendly alternatives to what people would regularly buy from supermarkets and the shop sells large dispensaries full of dried foods and others containing sustainable cleaning products
Products are supplied loose or in recyclable or reusable packaging so customers can fill their own reused containers and cut out the unnecessary waste which often builds up during a normal supermarket shop.
Keli decided to apply for the funding after speaking to her customers to find out what products they wanted to see that she doesn’t currently stock.
The range of nut butters and freshly ground coffee range aim to bring more health conscious and eco minded customers to the shop.
Keli identified a gap in the local market for producing nut butter after another outlet which produced it in the area closed.
The nut butter can be made in store using the new specialist equipment and can also be tailored for each customer, using different ingredients which are already sold in store.
Tasty combinations include hazelnut and chocolate butter, peanut butter or almond espresso butter.
Keli King said: “I’m really pleased to receive this diversification grant which will help me to produce a variety of new products which customers have specifically asked for.
“The new butter making machine means I can utilise some of the products already in store to develop these new products while the coffee grinder means I can make my own fresh coffee.
“Being able to diversify and develop new products in line with what customers want is really important for businesses like this, as well as continuing to develop recyclable and reusable packaging which is much more eco-friendly.
“I’m really grateful to Telford & Wrekin Council for the grant which is helping me to expand my range of healthy products.”
The Little Green Pantry, which has also benefited from eco grant funding, has now gained a strong following of eco-minded customers in Wellington and beyond.
Keli was recently shortlisted for the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) ‘start-up business of the year ‘award.
She has also received a Pride in Our High Street High Street Heroes award after being nominated by customers and other businesses in recognition of what her shop brings to the high street.
High street businesses of all types can benefit from the diversification grant which ranges from £500 to £4,000.
The grant can help businesses to pay for training in a new practical or technical skill that will either help them branch out into other areas or make them more resilient.
Funding can also help businesses to introduce new product lines to gain sales and purchase new equipment which supports the continued operation of the business.
The grant can also be used to provide marketing collateral including improved signage and packaging or cover advertising and promotion costs.
Councillor Lee Carter (Lab), Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for neighbourhood services, regeneration and the high street, said: “The Little Green Pantry has been a real success in Wellington and Keli is continuously looking at ways to diversify her business and increase footfall to the store and Wellington high street.
“This diversification grant is helping the business to develop and introduce new products as well as continuing to give customers a plastic free alternative to their weekly shop. We are pleased to support The Little Green Pantry with this funding.”
Watch this space for when the range of new products arrive in store.
You can find out more about support for businesses and the Pride in Our High Street grants here.
Photo: Keli King, owner of The Little Green Pantry, centre, with Cllrs Angela McClements and Graham Cook.
