Could Suma Be the UK Equivalent to Azure Standard?

I follow a lot of American homesteaders online, and there’s something about the simple, self sufficient lifestyle that really appeals to me. Ever since I’ve run my own kitchens at home, I’ve always thrived with a well-stocked pantry topping up on fresh produce as and when needed.

While I’ve always been conscious about the cleaning products I use, over the last years I made a conscious effort to switch to a largely organic diet, without completely breaking the bank. The struggle in the UK is how to support this lifestyle without the hefty price tag that comes with it. For a long time, I was jealous that people overseas in a similar situation to me could use Azure Standard to bulk buy high-quality food staples and household goods.

Luckily, a friend asked if I’d be interested in joining her Suma co-op. I’d known about Suma for a while, having shopped their own-brand products in my local (now sadly closed) whole food store.

So, what is Suma?

Suma Wholefoods is a UK-based, worker-owned co-operative founded in the 1970s and based in West Yorkshire. Unlike conventional wholesalers, it’s run collectively by its workers, with everyone paid equally and having a say in how the business is run. Suma specialises in vegetarian, organic, fairly traded, and eco-friendly products, supplying everything from grains, pulses, herbs and spices to ethical cleaning products, toiletries, and its own well-loved brand of wholefoods. They supply independent shops, cafés, community groups, and increasingly, individuals who join co-op buying groups.

My first Suma order

How the co-op buying group model works

It’s actually pretty simple to get started. All you need to do is gather a small group of like-minded people, friends, neighbours and family, and register as a buying group by filling in the form on Suma’s website. Once you’re approved, you’ll be given an account and a delivery schedule.

From there, each member of the group can browse the catalogue online and add items to the shared order. Orders are placed against a minimum spend, and the delivery comes on your assigned delivery date straight to your chosen drop-off location. Our drop off is a friends house on a residential street. 

When the delivery arrives, it’s a bit like Christmas morning, big boxes and bags of goods waiting to be unpacked and divided between the group. Each person takes home their portion. It does take a little coordination, and I'm very thankful for Rose for organising this for us! 

There are some important bits to note though: 

• Minimum order value and frequency – Our co-op needs to place at least three orders a year, and each order must total a minimum of £350 before VAT. With three of us ordering regularly (plus a couple of occasional buyers), we tend to hit this easily. To be honest, I dont think it would be too impossible to hit on your own over a year.

• Wholesale quantities – Suma sells in trade amounts, so if you’re after just one tin of beans, you’re out of luck! But if you want a case of 12, then go ahead and stock up. The main exception here is frozen foods, where they allow what’s called a “split” meaning you can order part of a case instead of the whole lot. I often use this for ice cream… though truth be told, I wouldn’t exactly complain if six tubs of organic mint choc chip ended up in my freezer!

• Trust within the group – While individual members can place and pay for their own orders, the account itself is shared. That means the account holder is ultimately responsible if anything goes unpaid. A bit of trust and good communication in the group goes a long way.

  
  

 There’s a lot to love about Suma if you’re trying to live a more conscientious lifestyle:

• Ethical through and through – everything they sell is strictly vegetarian and carefully vetted for fair trade and sustainability.

• Bulk and budget-friendly – you can buy staples like rice, flour, beans, oats and pasta in larger packs, which saves money long-term and cuts down on packaging.

• Beyond food – they stock body care and household cleaning products that are natural, cruelty-free, and eco-friendly, which makes switching your whole home to a greener lifestyle much easier.

• Co-operative values – supporting Suma means supporting a business model where profits don’t just go to shareholders, but are shared equally among workers who are passionate about ethical living.

  
  

So, is it the same as Azure Standard?

Yes, in many respects. If your priorities are ethical sourcing, wholefoods in bulk, reducing packaging, and supporting community-minded suppliers, then Suma is extremely close in spirit and practice to what Azure offers.

But not exactly. Some things Azure does, Suma does differently (or less) because of geography, infrastructure, and their delivery model. Azure’s “drop-point” system—where communities get together and collect orders from a shared delivery spot—is pretty unique, and it can make access easier in some rural areas. Suma’s model is more wholesale-based, usually delivering to shops, cafés, or co-ops, and due to the minimum orders you might need to join a local group rather than order as a single household. Being vegetarian Suma does not sell meat, and their dairy selection is rather limited. 

That said, from what I have found, I’d view Suma as the closest and best equivalent to Azure Standard over here. It may lack some of the huge drop-sizes or frozen/fresh delivery options that Azure users enjoy in certain parts of the US, but for most ethical, sustainable, wholefood, and community-oriented needs, it’s more than capable.

Keen to know if you have found other UK bulk buy options in the comments!