A COMMUNITY-run food firm is planning to open its first large-scale supermarket.

Locavore, which started its vegetable supply business five years ago, is hoping to start the supermarket in the South Side within the next nine months.

The firm grows crops locally across three sites in Glasgow, and sells them to hundreds of customers via its vegetable box scheme.

Every week homes across the city receive a supply of the locally-grown food, as well as other items such as fruit, eggs and milk, from west of Scotland suppliers.

Reuben Chesters, who started the company, said he now wants to give even more back to the community and local economy by opening the first supermarket--sized shop.

He has now secured a property for the plan on Victoria Road, and at more than 6000 square feet, it will be one of the largest shops on the thoroughfare when it opens.

The property at the corner of Calder Street was previously home to the Pandora Bar, and will be used for the new supermarket provided Locavore can secure a building warrant in the next three months.

If successful, the supermarket will include a cafe and deli counter, and will offer seasonal foods and packaging-free produce as well as cookery workshops and events.

Managing Director Reuben said: " We are hoping to have it opened within this financial year, it depends as we are waiting for planning to come through.

"If it's a problem it will push things back.

"We have been working on the larger shop idea for about two years now, so we're really looking forward to getting it going and scaling up for retail.

" The whole idea is making food do more good -reducing the environmental impact of food shipping and seeing what you can do for the local economy, buying from local suppliers and watching he local multiplier effect that has.

"We also do vegetable boxes which has built up our market."

Locavore already runs a shop on Nithsdale Road, as well as their three growing sites in Queen's Park, Rouken Glen and Neilston.

Reuben added: "It's all part of scaling up local food and making it something that is viable and real alternative to supermarket supply chains which don't add much value locally."