Phil Haughton opened Real Foods Supplies on Gloucester Road in 1984, later launching an organic veg box scheme and opening the first Better Food store in St Werburgh’s in 2002.
After more than four decades leading Better Food, founder Phil Haughton is stepping back from his role as managing director, marking a significant moment for the independent Bristol business.
Haughton first entered the world of organic retail in 1984 when he opened Real Foods Supplies on Gloucester Road. His commitment to sustainable produce grew into Phil’s Better Food Campaign in 1992, an early veg box scheme that paved the way for the first Better Food shop, which opened in St Werburgh’s in 2002.
In a message to customers, Haughton reflected on the early years, recalling how the team stocked every certified organic product they could source. He said the time feels right for a new chapter, both for himself; and for the company he built.
Better Food now has four stores across the city, and Craig Hawthorn has been appointed as the new managing director to guide the business into its next phase.