Suma Wholefoods: an example of 'hopepunk in action'

Credit: Suma Wholefoods

As a zero gender pay gap employer, this week Suma Wholefoods celebrated not only Equal Pay Day (20 November) but the announcement that the cooperative has been recognized internationally as a ‘leading example of … Hopepunk Entrepreneurship’.

Research led by Dr Catherine Brentnall (Manchester Metropolitan University) and Serxia Lage-Arias (Vrije University, Amsterdam) examined how cooperative principles such as those adopted by Suma embody ‘hopepunk’ — ‘a concept rooted in working towards a kinder, fairer world, even in challenging times’.

Used as a case study, Suma has been pinointed as a positive example of Hopepunk Entrepreneurship, with the research winning 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.

The study highlighted Suma’s longstanding success as a demonstration to aspiring business leaders of an alternative to traditional capitalist systems, and as an approach which can ‘thrive in competitive markets without sacrificing … values’.

More than just a dream

“While many organizations 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 cooperative model has shown that businesses can succeed without compromising on equality, ethics or inclusivity,” says the co-op in a statement.

“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 cooperative, 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.”

Ross Hodgson, Suma’s company secretary, adds: “We are delighted to be recognized 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.”

By Rosie Greenaway, editor