THE People’s Supermarket is selling off its stock on Sunday after announcing it will close.

The future of the Cowley Road supermarket has been uncertain for several months, but members took the decision to shut at a meeting held at the Old Music Hall in Cowley Road on Tuesday night.

Volunteers said they were unable to reach an agreement with the landlord and acting manager Anton Saberimuttu said they were unable to pay £7,000 rent by December 1. The not-for-profit business, which opened in July last year, was run by volunteers who paid £12 a year to have their say in its development.

If members volunteered for a four hour shift every four weeks, they received a 10 per cent discount.

Members say they want to restart the idea of a member-owned shop on ethical lines in a new location next year.

At the meeting, organisations such as Cultivate, the Oxford Sustainable Food Network, School Ethical Supplies Initiative and student groups OxCoop and the OUSU community wardens said they wanted to get involved with volunteering and promoting the idea.

Anyone with items to donate for the closing down sale on Sunday is encouraged to take them to the shop before then. To get involved in the next phase of The People’s Supermarket Oxford, visit the website tpsoxford.coop or contact the directors via email on board@ tpsoxford.coop