A HEREFORDSHIRE health food shop is set to close part of its business after Covid 'killed' a popular initiative.

Fodder Wholefoods, based in Hereford's Church Street, opened Fodder Basics, a plastic free, zero waste stall in the Butter Market in December 2018.

But owner Mark Hubbard said the stall's final day of trading will now take place on May 14.

“I have agonised over this decision for the last 6 months,” Mr Hubbard said.

“But I am afraid the Covid pandemic has killed what was a hugely popular initiative.”

From its opening to the first lockdown in March 2020, Mr Hubbard estimates that Fodder Basics has prevented over 250,000 plastic bags and bottles from going to landfill or ending up in the ocean, but the stall was undone by Covid and the public’s changing shopping habits.

“We won’t stop reducing plastic waste,” Mark said. “Luckily our shops in Church Street, Hereford, are still trading well, and we have never used plastic for our ‘own pack’ goods. So, we shall take the most popular products back to Fodder Wholefoods and Fodder Lotions and Potions in Church Street. The very popular household detergents will be available as refills in Fodder Wholefoods along with the peanut butter grinder & the toiletry refills will be upstairs in Fodder Lotions and Potions.”