Licensee Role

Preparation

Review the information provided on this website with your organisation in order to gain consensus that developing a Social Firm has the required support.

Expression of Interest

• Complete an expression of interest form
• Enter discussions with Wholefood Planet Ltd about your suitability to enter into this licence opportunity, the practicalities of the licence and possible territory.

Pre-licence Agreement

• Sign the pre-licence agreement and pay £8,000.
• Conduct market research in your proposed location as to the viability of placing a Wholefood Planet store there, and based on favourable results from this research, identify suitable premises for approval by the licensor
• Produce a business plan and marketing plan for approval by the licensor
• Obtain the necessary funding
• Recruit board and staff with involvement of Wholefood Planet Ltd as required

Wholefood Planet pre-licence fee covers assistance in both time and resources with this process. Receipted travel and subsistence costs will need to be paid by the licensee.

Get ready to open

• Sign Licence Agreement (will only be done once premises lease is signed for by licensee)
• Prepare the warehouse unit and fit it out in accordance with the agreed specification provided by Wholefood Planet
• Recruit staff (if not done in previous stage)
• Arrange for the management and staff to be trained
• Commence marketing activities PRIOR to opening and place intensive effort in its publicity
• Launch the business with assistance as required from the licensor

Develop the business

• Source new local products
• Promote on an ongoing basis
• Remain committed to the social values and education of public and customers about wholefood and a healthy lifestyle.

These roles will require:

• Strong commercial awareness
• Desire to build and manage a Social Firm (with Star Social Firm status from Social Firms UK, available following 3 years of trading)
• Passion for wholefood, healthy living and ethical trading in these products
• Ability to motivate and manage staff
• Knowledge of financial management
• Good organisational abilities
• The entrepreneurial flair and drive to develop the business
• A willingness to share your knowledge and achievements
• A readiness to subscribe to the discipline and systems set out in the Wholefood Planet licence package.