Subscribe to our newsletter to receive business tips, learn about new funding programmes, join upcoming events, take e-learning courses, and more.
Take the first step to successfully starting and growing your business.
Join for free)
Posted: Wed 24th Jun 2026
Welcome to Small Business Sessions, brought to you by Enterprise Nation as part of Powering Local Businesses, our collaboration with EDF Small Business and Square.
This series explores the practical steps small businesses can take to grow and thrive – from improving energy efficiency and embracing sustainability to creating a lasting impact in their local communities.
In this first episode of the series, we're joined by Renée Elliott, founder of Planet Organic, the UK's first fully certified organic supermarket.
Renée shares how she launched Planet Organic in 1995, why values were at the heart of the business from day one and what happened when she returned years later to rescue it from administration.
Why Renée started the business to do something meaningful, not simply to make money
The slow start after opening in November 1995, and why Renée feared the business might not survive
What happened when Renée was pushed out of the business and had to reinvent herself as a mentor
Why she returned in 2023 to help rescue Planet Organic from administration
Rebuilding the business by reconnecting it with its original values, product standards and community
Why community events, in-store expertise and team training matter in modern high-street retail
How Planet Organic has approached sustainability through core values and evolving, aspirational standards
You can also listen on other platforms and Enterprise Nation.
We're helping small businesses thrive on the high street – through expert support, smart energy advice and practical tools to grow sustainably. Get free support now
