Thurso zero-waste shop ‘no longer viable’ and set to close this weekend
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The zero-waste community refill shop in Thurso town centre is to close this weekend as "it is no longer financially viable".
The store in Rotterdam Street has been run for two years by the social enterprise Socially Growing, part of Thurso Community Development Trust (TCDT), selling a variety of food ingredients for customers to weigh and fill using their own containers.
It has been a cornerstone of TCDT's commitment to sustainability by seeking to reduce plastic waste while also offering training and employability opportunities.
Saturday will be its last day of trading.
In a statement posted on social media, the board of Socially Growing announced it is in the process of winding up. But it emphasised that TCDT will continue to run its other projects and will be looking at a new use for the shop space.
The trust moved into the premises – formerly Temptations, or Jessie Allan’s – in 2021 and the Socially Growing shop began early the following year.
In its message, the Socially Growing board said it was "with great regret" that it had made the "sad decision" to close the shop.
It went on: "For the past two years we have tried very hard to make the shop a financial success but unfortunately we have come to the conclusion that it is no longer financially viable and, as a charity, like any other small business, we cannot continue.
"In the beginning a small group of volunteers worked hard to create the space that became our zero waste shop and we were very proud of the lovely shop we made. We also tried hard to source the types of products that you, the community of Thurso, told us you were interested in buying.
"We created the novel 'serve yourself' system which many people found intriguing, though some customers preferred the staff to do the pouring and weighing for them.
"When we appointed our first members of staff we were ready to open our doors, and one of our first tasks was to appeal for volunteers to help us in the shop.
"Our last day of trading will be Saturday, March 30. All our stock is now reduced and there are many bargains on everyday items."
It added: "The board of Socially Growing is now in the process of winding up. However, we want to stress that Thurso Community Development Trust will continue to run its various projects, e.g. the community gardens, the harbour toilets, Highland Community Waste Partnership project, the Sharing Shed, the lunch club and the cost-of-living project."
TCDT is considering how the shop "can be utilised in a way that benefits the community of Thurso".
The statement added: "The board would like to take this opportunity to thank all the previous board members for their contributions to the project, to thank the members of staff who worked tirelessly to make the shop a viable concern and to thank the team of amazing volunteers who supported them. We most importantly wish to thank the customers and members of the Thurso community who supported and contributed to the project."
It is understood that any staff remaining will be redeployed elsewhere in the organisation.
In May 2023, Maree Todd praised TCDT for its "twin focus on sustainability and community" after touring the trust's projects, including the Socially Growing shop.
The SNP MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross said at the time: “I was thoroughly impressed with the Socially Growing shop... a socially and environmentally conscious social enterprise which promotes a sustainable local food system and plastic-free shopping.
“Socially Growing also places a huge emphasis on training and employment opportunities, working to develop and progress core job skills for marginalised folk in the community."
In October last year, the trust said it was "facing a time of uncertainty" over funding.
TCDT formed in 2018 with the aim of making Thurso "a better place to live, work and visit for all through community-led sustainable development". Its vision is for the town to be a "connected, active and ambitious place with a strong social purpose and a spirit of wellbeing".
