A ZERO-WASTE sustainable food shop has seen sales rise by 22% since March after it adapted its business model to continue trading during the coronavirus pandemic.

Love Your Planet, in Broughty Ferry, has been boosted by support from Business Gateway, including help to launch a new website.

Debbie Gallacher opened the shop in September 2019. It contains

75 dispensers filled with essential items such as pasta, rice, flour and pulses – and is on a mission to reduce packaging and food waste.

After the introduction of the lockdown, and seeking advice from her Business Gateway adviser, Gallacher, decided to keep the shop open to serve the local community.

She has seen an increased demand for products including new disinfectant and hand sanitisers, while dry good sales increased by 68% on the previous quarter.

Business Gateway also provided advice on funding, HR and marketing as well as help to launch a website that enables customers to shop using click and collect or a delivery service.

Gallacher said: “The first thing

I did when lockdown was announced was call my Business Gateway adviser, Stuart Milne. He has offered continued support and kept us up to date on crucial guidance.

“It is because of this advice that we continued trading throughout this challenging period. It was sink or swim, so we quickly adapted our business.”