Vegan entrepreneur Heather Mills has acquired the independently owned vegan store and online retailer Alternative Stores, pitching the Newcastle based business as a new “V-Bay type store”. 

Earlier this year the businesswoman and animal rights activist staged a dramatic rescue bid for her V-Bites vegan food business, successfully bringing it back under her control. 

Speaking about the latest acquisition, Mills wrote on LinkedIn: “I am delighted to announce the full acquisition of Alternative Stores, an award-winning online family business created by my dear friends, the father-daughter duo Dan John and Zahra Newberry. Alternative Stores has already helped hundreds of family businesses launch their brands by offering plant-based, cruelty-free products, ranging from makeup to algae and chocolate to cheese.

“Our goal is to create a central hub of ‘hero’ plant-based products, making it easier for consumers to find diverse, healthier, and tastier options. We also support British family-owned businesses, the backbone of our economy. I look forward to continuing this work with Zahra and ensuring everything meets the Heather Mills stamp of approval.

Cutting out the corporates
“I observed too many family businesses struggling to get listed on corporate owned selling websites, facing endless paperwork, poor communication, and exorbitant charges that ultimately harmed their operations. I aim to create an ethical online store that supports family businesses and diminishes the control of large corporations abusing their power.

“I aim to create an ethical online store that supports family businesses and diminishes the control of large corporations abusing their power”

People may find these companies convenient, however they are harming the consumers pocket and ethics in other ways they have not considered.”

Dan John and Zahra Newberry, the father and daughter duo behind Alternative Stores, and they are delighted with the sale commenting: “We are excited for the future of Alternative Stores with such a passionate vegan pioneer in Heather Mills.

We have built up the most amazing and loyal customer base and know they will be as delighted as we both are for the ideas and plans that Heather and her team are working on. Watch this space!”