Suma celebrates zero gender pay gap

On Equal Pay Day, 20 November, Suma Wholefoods celebrated equal gender pay in its business, along with a recent award win based on its ‘hopepunk’ approach

As an equal pay worker co-operative, built on the belief that fairness should be at the heart of business, Suma Wholefoods says it never has had and never will have a gender pay gap, with every colleague earning the same hourly rate, regardless of gender, role, or length of service. And the co-operative has

While many organisations are grappling with how to address gender pay disparities, Suma says, its business stands as proof that a fairer system isn’t just a dream – it’s achievable and sustainable. with its co-operative model an example that businesses can succeed without compromising on equality, ethics, or inclusivity. The co-operative says that equality isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s good for people, communities, and the planet, and invites others to imagine – and build – a future where pay gaps are history.

Suma also reports that it has been celebrated internationally as a leading example of what’s being ‘hopepunk entrepreneurship’, as a study in which it features as a case study won the 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 research, led by Dr Catherine Brentnall (Manchester Metropolitan University) and Serxia Lage-Arias (Vrije University, Amsterdam), explored how co-operative principles like those at Suma embody hopepunk; a concept rooted in working towards a kinder, fairer world, even in challenging times. The study also highlighted that Suma’s enduring success demonstrates how co-operative models can thrive in competitive markets without sacrificing their values. Suma say that for aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders, its story offers an alternative to traditional capitalist systems.

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

equality gender pay Ross Hodgson Staffing Suma Wholefoods