Your Co-op Live - Sourced Locally Matters Hosts & Guests

Owner, The Norfolk Brewhouse

David Holiday and his wife Rachel share a passion for craft ale and lager – which they have managed to turn from a hobby into a thriving business. This multi award winning brewery, home of Moon Gazer ales, is based in a converted barn in rural North Norfolk and uses the riches of local malted barley from the county. Established in 2012, the team at Moon Gazer are all passionate about local provenance and the importance of the value and vibrancy local food producers can bring to the community.

Owners, Toppesfield Vineyard

Jane and Peter Moore run Toppesfield Vineyard in North Essex. Their award winning wines are stocked in the Sourced Locally section in all East of England Co-op stores across the region. In 2020 Jane and Peter converted their Wine Centre to luxury accommodation overlooking their beautiful vineyard. The East of England Co-op ran a competition earlier this year for a complementary weekend stay in their new accommodation and the lucky winner is booked in for early September 2021.

Andrew Sturgeon

Owner, Lodge Farm

Andrew and Gill Sturgeon bought Lindsey Lodge Farm near Hadleigh in 1986 and for the last 20 years have been growing strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, runner beans, pumpkins and even Christmas trees.

They started supplying the East of England Co-op in 1995 and are now a trusted partner within our Sourced Locally family.

'We grow strawberries, raspberries and blackberries on our farm in Lindsey, Suffolk. We have been supplying the East of England Coop for over 10 years and are very happy to be part of their Sourced Locally Initiative'

Owner, Alder Tree

Stephany comes from a 3^rd generation fruit growing family & was brought up on the family farm. With a passion for the environment, quality food and supporting local suppliers, Stephany runs Alder Tree Ltd ice cream, Alder Carr Farm shop and the Courtyard Café, all based at Alder Carr Farm near Needham Market.

Paul Thompson

Owner, Paul Thompson Events

Paul draws on 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, 19 years of which have been dedicated to honing his skills as a committed chef in the kitchens of hotels, restaurants and event catering companies. Paul’s career has also seen him involved in food development, where he has worked closely with some of Suffolk’s premier food producers.  

Now at the helm of his own business, Paul Thompson Events, he can be found anywhere from cooking in a field kitchen for 200 wedding guests, to a studio kitchen for international recording artists and, more recently, opening an in-house cafe for a national corporate client. 

Nikki Insley

Head of Membership, Community and Insight, East of England Co-op

Nikki has worked at the East of England Co-op for almost nine years.  As part of her role as Head of Membership, Community and Insight she oversees the membership programme and community outreach activity for the Society including the operation of the East of England Co-op Community Cares Fund.

The fund was created in response the Coronavirus pandemic. It uses grants to support community groups adapting and creating support services and activities in response to the crisis.  The first grants, totalling £75K, were shared amongst local foodbanks, Age UK and Community Foundations for Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. In the last eight months the fund has given away more than £254K worth of grants with over £100K of these being to food banks and other organisations dealing with the consequences of food poverty. 

Helen Raven

Senior Community Manager, East of England Co-op

Helen has over 20 years’ experience in communications and marketing in the public sector and more recently for the East of England Co-op where she supported the Community Team before taking on the role of Senior Community Manager. 

Having started her career at a regional newspaper creating free websites for local good causes and charities to promote themselves and their activities, Helen has come full circle in her role helping local community groups to access funding and support.