Bournemouth’s 'first 100 per cent vegan supermarket' has put out a plea for customer support due to ‘endless rising costs’.

Sunrise Organics has warned that 2024 will likely be its last year of trading.

Mark Lewis set up the business on St Michaels Road with his then-partner in 2015; he offers a 100 per cent vegan shopping experience and a large majority of organic products.

Mark said: “Rising costs definitely put a lot of people off, and people are trimming down their shopping.

“We have a lot of competition with supermarkets who have jumped on the vegan bandwagon and have hammered it with low costs, and I feel low-quality products.”

Mark believes the decline of Bournemouth’s independent shops on the high street has affected footfall.

He said: “Bournemouth has declined quite drastically over the last couple of years.

“There are so many empty shops and places closing. The last thing I want to be is one of those, but there are only so many times you can bang your head against a wall.”

The challenge of rising costs is taking a toll; energy bills, rent, and an increase in living wages have created ‘the perfect storm’ for Mark’s business.

Mark said: “I think the landlords and the freeholders need to consider offering sensible rents for their properties and encourage people to bring business back into town.

“I really think that a town that is filled with exciting, vibrant, independent stores is a lot more attractive than yet another boring high street with another supermarket and another chain coffee shop.”

Sunrise Organics ‘makes an active point’ to keep its prices low; Mark said he offers discount schemes for students and NHS workers.

He added: “We appreciate every single person that comes through the door, every sale, be it a small item or a weekly shop.

“We offer a personal service; we like to help people, and we keep a really close relationship with our customers.

“The store is 100 per cent vegan, the staff are 100 per cent vegan, we can help you.”