Multi-award-winning Hanover Healthfoods are celebrating 120 years in business this month. They are “probably” the oldest health food store in the world and one of Edinburgh’s oldest independent businesses. They are definitely the only UK retailer in the UK to gain Living Wage, Living Hours and Living Pension accreditations!
Hanover Healthfoods became accredited Living Wage Employers in 2015. At the time John said “It is the right and only thing to do. We believe it is important to consider all aspects of a business when you chose to spend your money with them, and treating staff fairly should be a key consideration.”
Hanover also recently became a Living Hours and a Living Pension employer which means staff have secure working hours and stability now and in the future.
Independent, knowledgeable and innovative, Hanover are not in the business of just selling, they are about building long-term trusting relationships with their customers. The business was founded in 1904 and has been sourcing the best healthy foods, supplements and skincare from all over the globe since then.
Ainslie Friel, whose family owned the store for more than 80 years, recalls working in the shop from the 1960s when the marketplace was very different. Items such as pure honey and prunes weren’t yet available in supermarkets and Ainslie remembers the queues to get in!
Current owner, John McKee, believes that their staff, who are highly trained and whose knowledge and advice have helped build longstanding relationships, have been critical in the continued success of the business.
John took over the store in 2015, expanding their range of health foods and skincare, and recognising the important role of his team by becoming accredited. He is keen to make the store a place where people come together to learn and laugh!
To celebrate their anniversary, Hanover Healthfoods are generously giving away goody bags from 13th to 18th May so drop in and say hello.