< Back to the Community Retailing Network website

Ollaberry Community Co-op

Welcome to Ollaberry Shop - a thriving general store owned and run by the local community.

Staff at Ollaberry Community Co-op, Shetland. Photo of petrol pumps at Ollaberry Community Co-op, Shetland. Fruit and vegetables at Ollaberry Community Co-op, Shetland.

Catering for local trade and visitors alike we offer 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 support our local producers and have a good selection of Shetland produce including milk, bread, biscuits, pies, oatcakes, chocolates, meat, fish, eggs, beer and vegetables when in season.

You can get a cup of tea or coffee at the shop and we have the only fuel and public toilets in the area. All major credit and debit cards are accepted.

Contact details

Ollaberry Community Co-op
Ollaberry Industrial Estate
Ollaberry
Shetland
ZE2 9RT

telephone: 01806 544 344
fax: 01806 544 344
email: ollaberryshop@btconnect.com

Opening hours 2009

Ollaberry Community Co-op - Opening hours 2009
Monday9am - 6pm
Tuesday9am - 6pm
Wednesday9am - 6pm
Thursday9am - 7pm
Friday9am - 6pm
Saturday9am - 6pm
Sunday2pm - 5pm

About our shop

In 1993 our local shop was threatened with closure. Concerned about the future of the village if there was no shop, a meeting was organised by the community council to look at options. The outcome was the set up of a local steering group to look at the feasibility of taking the shop into community ownership.

Initially a community buy out of the existing shop was considered but dismissed as the shop was valued at below the asking price. With no other premises available, a new build became the only viable option.

The steering group developed the business plan and managed to raise £120,000 through a combination of grants, loans and shares - £12,000 was raised locally through selling £50 shares in the community shop.

By September 2005 the new shop was built and with help from the Co-operative Group, shelving and equipment was installed and the shop filled with stock - it opened its doors 3 October 1995.

We became a corporate member of the Co-operative Group which means we can order our stock directly through the Co-op and this helps us provide a good range at competitive prices - something we could probably not achieve otherwise. We were also assigned a 'Buddy Store' which is the Co-op store in Lerwick and allows us to order smaller quantities of goods using a 10% Community Discount Card.

The shop has grown into a very successful business, run on a full time basis by 2 part-time managers and 4 other staff. We also have 4 to 6 school pupils that come after school and at the weekend to fill shelves and get some work experience.

Stock and services

Photo of staff stacking shelves at Ollaberry Community Co-op, Shetland. Photo of staff serving a customer at Ollaberry Community Co-op, Shetland. Photo of sign in front of Ollaberry Community Co-op, Shetland.

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
  • Maps and books
  • Newspapers and magazines
  • Post cards, greetings cards and wrapping paper
  • Cameras, films and batteries
  • Toys and gifts
  • Shetland CDs
  • Stationary

Local produce

We have a good selection of Shetland produce including, including milk, bread, biscuits, pies, oatcakes, chocolates, meat, fish, eggs, beer and vegetables when in season.

Fair trade

Coffee, chocolate, sugar, tea, wine as available.

Services

  • Mobile phone top-up
  • Cash-back facility
  • Community notice board
  • Tourist information
  • Public toilet
  • Coffee/tea machine

Where to find us

Ollaberry lies along the shores of the Bay of Ollaberry which is on the western side of Yell Sound, within the district of Northmaven. Our shop is just outside the main village which is 33 miles north of Lerwick.


View Ollaberry Community Co-op in a larger map

How to become a member

If you are interested in becoming a member of Ollaberry Community Co-op please contact us for details.

< Back to the Community Retailing Network website