The Package Free Larder in Southsea announces closing date as operating costs rise

The Package Free Larder in Elm Grove will close for the final time on Sunday, November 10, as organisers of the community-led not for profit expressed their sadness at the news. The store opened in July 2020 after it was supported by more than 1,000 people through a crowdfunding campaign as it set out to reduce single-use plastic consumption.

However, after a number of successful years where it has built a community of like-minded conscientious shoppers, the cost of running the shop has proved to much in the current economic climate.

The news was announced on social media on Monday, October 14. The statement said: “It is with great sadness that after nearly five years, we are announcing the closure of The Package Free Larder.

“Increases in operating costs and stock prices, alongside a lack of resources and funding that would be required to drive new initiatives, have taken their toll, and the store is no longer sustainable financially.”

The organisation is now looking to sell its remaining stock in order to meet its final financial obligations, including its rent commitments. The store is still taking orders and is asking for customers to order pay-up-front bulk orders to help them in the final few weeks of opening.

Despite the sad news, the organisers are proud of all they have achieved since opening over four years ago (the video embedded in this article shows the day they opened).

The statement added: “We’d like to thank the countless number of people who have given their time and donated towards this community project; although we are devastated to close our store, we are extremely proud of all we have achieved and we are leaving with our heads high.”