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When employees are keen to ensure we don’t err too far on the side of making money at the expense of environmental sustainability, that’s a sign of ethical ownership, writes Riverford co-owner Richard Turner.
I hope you return to post-festive routine well rested, well fed, and full of resolve to eat your way to corporeal and planetary redemption in 2019.
On June 8th 2018, Riverford became employee owned. Find out why founder Guy Singh-Watson is saying no to a venture capital sale of Riverford, and how he believes business can be a force for good.
After 12 years of thought, debate and prevarication, we become 74 per cent employee owned on Friday 8th. There will be a huge party on the day; our customer services line will be closed from 1pm so everyone can celebrate. And on Monday, assuming they don’t sack me, I will come to work as one of 650 co-owners. Amongst all the signings, meetings and legal documentation, I am tearful, grumpy and awash with churning emotions – but doubt is not one of them.
As we prepare for employee ownership I’m writing an ethos statement to be included in the documentation. “Only dead fish go with the flow” made it in there and seems to embody our independent spirit. However staff pointed out that going with the flow can conserve energy for more important battles, that it can be soothing to drift along with others, and sometimes everyone else is right. On reflection the principle should be knowing when to drift, and when to swim.
Issue 12: Fairness and five years.
Find out more about Wicked Leeks and our publisher, organic veg box company Riverford.