Their motto is Think Global Shop Local, founded 30 years ago as The Great Bear Trading Co-operative, The Bear Co-op Healthfoods now offers a huge range of products to help people live a healthier and less environmentally damaging lifestyle.

The Bear Shop stocks organically produced, local and Fairtrade food, both fresh and frozen, alongside an enormous range of herbs & spices. Offering a broad range of complementary medicines, environmentally-friendly cosmetics and toiletries, including products from Weleda, Biohealth, and Solgar. They have an Aromatherapist and Medical Herbalist who provide free consultations for their customers.

In their 150 year old building in the middle of Todmorden they have developed a business with a comprehensive range of organic local produce, wholefoods, herbs, herbal and homeopathic medicines, cafe serving wholesome vegetarian food cooked on the premises.

The staff at The Bear have a wide knowledge of nutrition and complementary medicine. On site their fully qualified herbalist likes nothing better than to be asked for advice and information on medication or dietary issues.

Bear Wholefoods exists in the heart of the local community and is a shop for the people of that community. Operating a fair trade policy and continually extending their range of local produce by encouraging growers to sell from directly from their shop, they are quite literally providing a truly comprehensive resource for local people.

Pam Warhurst is the Chair of the Co-operative, she says ‘What matters to us is people. We like to think we have time to talk to our customers and really help them when they are in need. Young or old, buyer or seller, we are here to help. What we don’t know, we’ll find out, or find someone who does. We are part of a community and trying to make things better for that community is what excites us’.

If you are visiting Todmorden it is an absolute must on your list of places to visit. Or if you are running or looking to set up a similar venture why not visit their website for a genuine success story packed with a wealth of information and know-how.

www​.bearco​-op​.com