Unicorn Grocery

Unicorn Grocery Named ‘Best Food Retailer’ at the 2017 BBC Food & Farming Awards, we offer our Manchester customer ba We hope you enjoy it too.
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Unicorn was established in 1996 by a small group of people committed to social change, who had a vision for the kind of place they wanted to shop in themselves. A place where a really wide range of wholesome, tasty food, sourced with care, would be sold at affordable prices. A shop owned and run by motivated worker-owners following a shared social and environmental agenda. A friendly, diverse and

welcoming space that would act as a hub in the community. Although we’ve grown a lot since then, those things remain true today. We’re proud to have proved that a worker-owned business with values can compete with national chains and provide a genuine alternative to the supermarket, and we’re now more or less the size of one. Co-op members still aim to run the kind of shop they love shopping in.

Good Stuff Shoutout Equal Exchange ☕🍎Little shoutout for one of our good stuff suppliers Equal Exchange, which is produc...
25/06/2026

Good Stuff Shoutout Equal Exchange ☕🍎

Little shoutout for one of our good stuff suppliers Equal Exchange, which is produced, distributed and retailed by a coop! Which feels appropriate given that it is also until 5th July.

Equal Exchange is a worker cooperative that builds long-term trade partnerships with small growers, which are economically just and environmentally sound. Through mutually beneficial relationships between farmers and consumers, they show how worker co-operatives and Fair Trade contribute to a more equitable, democratic and sustainable world.

We stock a large range of their coffees and their delicious mint chocolate 🍫You can also find them on our coop fortnight end cap, along with lots of other cooperative goodies.

Look out for the pink apple shelf tags for suppliers we are particularly proud to be trading with 🍎

25/06/2026

📢 It’s and ! 🌍

So today we’re celebrating the positive impact fair taxpaying co‑operatives have on their communities and society. ⚖️ 🏘️

More than 50 co‑ops and mutuals – including Co‑operatives UK – are Fair Tax Mark certified by the Fair Tax Foundation, demonstrating their commitment to paying the right amount of corporation tax at the right time and in the right place.

🤩 And they’re actively living the co‑operative values of honesty, openness and transparency, which creates trust and credibility among their members, customers and stakeholders – while contributing fairly to the UK economy 🇬🇧 and the communities they serve.

So we salute you Suma Wholefoods, Unicorn Grocery, Ethical Consumer Magazine, , Scotmid Coop, Southern Co-op, Energy4All, Co-operative Party, Radstock Co-operative Society, Revolver Cooperative and Eighth Day Vegetarian Cafe and Shop and all the other co‑operatives helping to set the standard for transparency and accountability, while putting people and purpose first. 👏

🎉 A special shout out goes to The Midcounties Co-operative Food and East of England Co-op, who, like us, were among the first businesses in the UK to be awarded the Fair Tax Mark. Read our guest blog from the Fair Tax Foundation to see the full list of Fair Tax certified co‑ops: https://buff.ly/aRiqt6W

🚨 And the great news is, Co‑operatives UK members get 10% off Fair Tax Mark certification from The Fair Tax Foundation. Find out more here: https://buff.ly/MbMZpSd.

Together, Fair Tax Week and Co-op Fortnight are shining the spotlight on how co‑operative values can help build a fairer economy for everyone.👌

We are really excited to hear about another grocery worker co-op taking root over in Leicester: SPRöUT. Earlier this yea...
24/06/2026

We are really excited to hear about another grocery worker co-op taking root over in Leicester: SPRöUT. Earlier this year, some of their team visited Unicorn to dig a bit deeper into our worker co-op grocery model and swap some notes.

SPRöUT are currently in the development phase, building their founding group and searching for premises. They'd love to hear from growers, suppliers and supporters interested in following the project and helping spread the word.

Head to the link to visit their new website and sign up for updates:

http://sprout-grocery.co.uk/

And for any other aspiring grocery co-operators, our Grow Your Own Grocery guide is available on our website.

Veg News 23rd June 🍈Featuring as heavily on the Unicorn breakfast table as they are on our shelves, is the French Charen...
23/06/2026

Veg News 23rd June 🍈

Featuring as heavily on the Unicorn breakfast table as they are on our shelves, is the French Charentais Melon. They have really hit their peak this week and are filling our fridge with their perfumed scent.

Sliced on a plate with some berries in the morning, eaten as a lovely fresh and fragrant dessert or (as suggested by one of our suppliers in the South of France) halved and filled with port!

They are sensational and will be in our seasonal porch display all week.

The queen of melons in our opinion!

Chorlton Open Gardens takes place this weekend! 🌸North Chorlton on Saturday, South Chorlton on SundayTake a peek into th...
22/06/2026

Chorlton Open Gardens takes place this weekend! 🌸

North Chorlton on Saturday, South Chorlton on Sunday

Take a peek into the area’s nicest gardens and raise money for two amazing charities

Unicorn’s roof garden will be open for free as part of the event on Saturday 27th (only) – just turn up!

For the rest you need a programme – these can be purchased from a stall outside Unicorn on the day (we are not selling them in the shop).

We will be doing some sampling with some of our suppliers - including Wye Bakehouse, Suma kombucha, The Vegan Cheesemonger & Vinceremos wine

Limited mobility? Chorlton Bike Deliveries are offering trishaw rides around the gardens both days – phone them on 07561 737 986 to arrange

Help double donations for a local charity supporting young women facing homelessnessWe're sharing an appeal from our nei...
19/06/2026

Help double donations for a local charity supporting young women facing homelessness

We're sharing an appeal from our neighbours at Contact Hostel in Whalley Range.

Contact provides accommodation and support for young women experiencing homelessness, helping them build confidence, stability and the skills needed to move towards independent living.

From 22-29 June, donations made through their Big Give campaign page will be matched, meaning every pound donated goes twice as far.

If you'd like to support a local charity doing important work in our community, follow the link below. Please note that only donations made through the Big Give campaign page are eligible to be doubled, so please use that link if you're able to.

https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05WS00000BucVhYAJ?fbclid=IwVERDUASh7ylleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR7oXQi8k-EWjS5dxgbU6YqWb5PTo7d4G4lNucUwlDAY-XaaZdUchBGpjiWmWw_aem_kPqZWM72cowQ1B9s50lG-g

Veg News 16th June 🫜This week we are really excited to see bunched beetroot back on the shelves courtesy of Pam and the ...
16/06/2026

Veg News 16th June 🫜

This week we are really excited to see bunched beetroot back on the shelves courtesy of Pam and the team at Strawberry Fields. Fresh, new season summer beetroots are young, tender, thinner-skinned and particularly sweet, making them especially delicious raw in salads, colourful slaws or quick pickles.

Unlike the loose beetroot we enjoy throughout winter, these first bunches are harvested young and sold fresh rather than grown on for storage. That means a more delicate texture and flavour that really shines in simple dishes, where they don't need much more than a drizzle of olive oil or a splash of vinegar. They also pair beautifully with fresh herbs such as dill or mint.

Look out for vibrant pink chioggia bunches this weekend! Also known as candy-stripe or bull's-eye beetroot due to its striking interior rings of pink and white. This Italian heirloom variety is particularly lovely sliced very thinly and served raw, where its beautiful pattern and colours can really shine. It has a sweeter and milder flavour than the traditional, deeper-red roots.

Top tip is to separate the tops from the roots when you get home rather than leaving them attached. The leaves draw moisture from the beetroot roots themselves, so removing them will help the roots stay fresher in the fridge for longer. The tops needn't go to waste either and can be wilted with garlic and lemon much like chard or spinach.

Fun fact is that beetroot was originally grown for its leafy tops rather than its roots. The sweet, earthy roots we enjoy today only became popular much later, though the leaves are still well worth eating!

We have some delicious beetroot recipes on our website if you fancy, including lots of salad ideas and a beetroot tzatziki.

30th Birthday Beer Collab 🍺🥳🎂To celebrate our 30th birthday later this year, we have collaborated with one of our oldest...
11/06/2026

30th Birthday Beer Collab 🍺🥳🎂

To celebrate our 30th birthday later this year, we have collaborated with one of our oldest suppliers, Black Isle Brewery, who are also one of the oldest organic brewers around.

Co-Hop-erate is a special rebrand of their fresh, citrusy pale ale with 'aromas of grapefruit and tangerine!' 🍊 With a beautiful in-house design from our super talented artist member.

We will be doing loads of fun things to celebrate, but the big party at the shop will be Saturday the 19th September so do put it in your diary if you can make it! 😊

Celebrating 30 years of great groceries - proudly worker run 🍏

Veg News 9th June 🥬This week we are seeing our brassica range nicely extending. This hearty vegetable tends to be favour...
09/06/2026

Veg News 9th June 🥬

This week we are seeing our brassica range nicely extending. This hearty vegetable tends to be favoured in the colder months but seeing those generous heads and bright green leaves on our shelves today, we could not keep quiet about it.



Summer and savoy cabbages from Lyncroft Farm in Ormskirk work really well added to soups or stews but the early crops have tender enough leaves to be finely chopped into a coleslaw or caesar salad. We've also been enjoying Lyncroft's spring greens with a beautiful shine to the leaves. It goes without saying that this time of the year our growers don't get much rest. Crops are ready to be harvested, whilst planning for the coming months is in full swing, taking into account the changeable weather, impacting everything.

Mini cucumbers are becoming more abundant with the warmer temperatures, with fresh deliveries twice a week. We've seen the first Lancashire Maris Bard new potatoes too, we're hoping for drier fields to allow more to be lifted!



An absolute staff favorite at the moment is the wonderful cavolo nero from Libby Flintoff in Preston. The spring harvest has noticeably more tender leaves, and with our twice weekly deliveries, it's always super fresh on our shelves. Ideal chopped and massaged with a simple dressing of olive oil, salt and lemon. Add in chopped cucumber, some thinly sliced kohl rabi, fresh broad beans, dill, toasted pumpkin and sunflower seeds, making a delicious crunchy and refreshing plate!

Finally, we're pleased to see that the broccoli season has started with lovely fresh heads coming from Pollybell Farm over by Doncaster. It's such a pleasure to work with all the new season produce hitting our shelves at the moment.

New Unicorn weekly email newsletter 👀🥕✨We are launching our brand new email newsletter today! We have created this newsl...
04/06/2026

New Unicorn weekly email newsletter 👀🥕✨

We are launching our brand new email newsletter today! We have created this newsletter to take you beyond the aisles - to share stories of our growers and producers, the radical roots of our co-operative, and some practical tips and recipes to help you get the most out of your shop.

You can expect to hear from us most Thursdays, and will include our weekly Veg News (which you may also spot here as well as chalked onto our shop entrance every week), which is written by our veg team, who work closely with the people growing our produce, so the best way to stay in the loop with what's landing on our shelves and what it's like working on the land, as well as our regular supermarket price checks.

We are also giving away a little welcome gift for signing up - one of the enamel pins we had made to celebrate our 30th birthday this year (ps add 19th September to your diary for lots of birthday funtimes at the shop!). Sign up to the newsletter for instructions on how to claim your pin.

🔗 Link to the sign-up page (scroll down to near the bottom 👀) https://www.unicorn-grocery.coop/contact-us/?utm_source=Unicorn+Grocery&utm_campaign=1fa9eedf33-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_11_23_02_07_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a71b08bb2f-1fa9eedf33-352950620

Address

89 Albany Road
Manchester
M210BN

Telephone

+441618610010

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