Welcome to Eid Community Co-op - a well-stocked shop owned and run by the local community.

We cater for local trade and visitors alike offering a wide range of everyday items such as fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh bread and dairy, groceries, wines and beers, household goods, and greetings cards. We aim to support local producers and have a good selection of Shetland produce including fish, meat, milk, butter, seasonal vegetables, real ales, chocolates and cakes. We are also committed to Fair Trade and through our link with the Co-operative Group are able to stock a variety of Fair Trade products.

The shop includes a Post Office and we can accept all major credit and debit cards.

Contact details

Eid Community Co-op
Aith
Bixter
Shetland
ZE2 9NB

telephone: 01595 810 600
fax: 01595 810 900
email: manager@eidcoop.plus.com

Opening hours 2009

Eid Community Co-op - Opening hours 2009

	Shop	Post office
Monday	9am - 6pm	11am - 4pm
Tuesday	9am - 6pm	11am - 3pm
Wednesday	9am - 6pm	closed
Thursday	9am - 7.30pm	11am - 4pm
Friday	9am - 6pm	9am - 1pm
Saturday	9am - 6pm	closed
Sunday	2pm - 4.30pm	closed

About our shop

Eid Community Co-op is a thriving community shop and Post Office that is owned and run by local people.

Following the closure of the only shop in the area in 2002, the community voted to take on and run the shop itself. A management committee was set up to drive the project and in November 2002 Eid Community Co-op opened for business.

Initially operating from the original shop building which was in a poor state of repair there was much demand for a new shop and in 2004 a community company 'Eid Developments' was set up to work on this and other projects.

The shop was set up as a co-operative which means it is owned by its members and all its profits are reinvested in the business. It is run democratically where all members have an equal say regardless of the number of shares they have. Residents were invited to buy shares at £50 each and from a population of 200 we have 147 shareholders and managed to raise over £10,000.

A good level of community commitment and investment helped with sourcing other funding and by 2006 Eid Developments had managed to raise over £250,000 that would see the purchase and refurbishment of a former knitwear factory in the centre of Aith and this became our new and much improved premises.

Support included funding from the Rural Challenge Fund (£75,000), Shetland Islands Council (£60,000), Scottish Land Fund (£50,000) and a £50,000 loan from Social Investment Scotland.

We also received and continue to receive considerable support from the Co-operative Group. As a co-operative ourselves we could become a corporate member of the Group which in turn means we can order our goods through the Group, benefiting from its extensive buying power and the convenience of direct and regular deliveries of good quality food. The Group helped with the shop refurbishment, its layout and stocking and provided us with a £10,000 stock loan which was paid back in 2008. We were assigned a 'Buddy Store' which is the Co-op store in Lerwick and from here we can order smaller quantities of goods using a 10% Community Discount Card.

The shop operates as a successful business, run by a Manager. 4 part-time staff and 4 after-school helpers. It is a valued and essential part of the community both in terms of its goods and service and the social role it plays.

Stock and services

We try to cater for all our customers needs in what we stock and the services we offer.

As a community co-op we have a close link with the Co-operative Group which means you will see many Co-operative Group products and promotions in our store as well as a range of locally sourced goods:

• Fruit and vegetables
• Chilled and frozen goods
• Fresh bread, pies and bakery
• Groceries, soft drinks, sweets and snacks
• Baby food, nappies etc
• Wine, beer, spirits and cigarettes
• Household and hardware
• Pet food and accessories
• Coal, logs and kindling
• Maps and books
• Newspapers and magazines
• Post cards, greetings cards and wrapping paper
• Cameras, films and batteries
• Toys, gifts and seasonal gift hampers
• Shetland CDs
• Stationary

Local produce

We have a good selection of Shetland produce including, fish, meat, seasonal vegetables, milk and butter, oatcakes, bread and cakes, real ales, chocolates and fudge.

Fair trade

Coffee, chocolate, sugar, wine.

Services

• Mobile phone top-up
• Cash-back facility
• DVD rental
• Home delivery
• Community notice board
• Tourist information

Post Office

• Banking services including cash withdrawals
• Pay your bills
• Holiday currency and insurance

Where to find us

Our shop is situated in the community of Aith which lies at the head of the well-sheltered Aith Voe on the west side of Shetland, around 20 miles from Lerwick.

How to become a member

If you would like to become a member of Eid Community Co-op please contact the shop manager.