The UK’s leading organic food retailer has opened its 200th store – just fourteen years after it first launched with a mission to make wellbeing accessible to all.
Grape Tree, which was founded by entrepreneur Nick Shutts, has taken on a 2000 sq ft shop at St Anns Shopping Centre in Harrow, creating six new jobs initially with more to follow.
The ‘milestone’ launch is its thirteenth location within the M25 and strengthens what is becoming an increasingly important part of the country for the company.
Shoppers will be able to choose from a wide range of health foods and wellbeing products, including wholefoods, superfoods, dried fruit, nuts, seeds, vitamins and supplements.
Grape Tree’s Oliver Shutts commented: “This is a real statement opening in one of North West London’s most popular shopping locations, serving a growing demand for high quality organic foods that offer real value for money.
“Wholefoods have always been at the heart of what we do, and we want to ensure eating well is easier and more affordable, whether that is through nuts, seeds, dried fruit, healthy snacking, baking ingredients or our wider natural wellbeing range.
“What I particularly like about Harrow is the size of the store. At around 2,000 sq ft, we can really show customers what Grape Tree has become and offer an enormous amount of choice while continuing to deliver the value we are known for.
“200 stores is an important milestone, but we still see a huge opportunity to take our brand into more communities across the UK.”
Grape Tree has built up a strong following by offering customers value, quality and choice when it comes to health foods and wellbeing products, including its own 100% organic range.
Its management team completed one of the largest Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) deals seen in the UK at the start of this year, giving it the foundations to accelerate ambitious expansion plans whilst keeping staff at the heart of the business.
In the first few months after the transaction, the company opened a further 10 locations, creating 60 new jobs and taking its workforce to over 1000 for the first time. There has also been a £100,000 employee bonus paid out in recognition of early success under the new ownership structure.
Oliver picked up the story: “There has been a lot of talk about the demise of the high street, but we don’t believe that’s the case…people still like to explore new ranges and see what they are buying, not to mention tapping into the knowledge of our Grape Tree staff.
“Bricks-and-mortar retail remains central to our business. With plans to open a further 10 stores during 2026, we are determined to play our part in increasing footfall and keeping towns and cities vibrant places to visit.”
He concluded: “Our proposition remains very simple – great quality wholefoods, genuine choice and making healthier living more affordable and accessible. That will never change.”
