Arthur Potts Dawson (The Peoples' Supermarket)
Arthur Potts Dawson, 39, is a talented chef, restauranteur, cookery writer and social entrepreneur. His newest business venture, The People’s Supermarket, opened in June 2010 and is a not-for- profit co-operative social enterprise. Jamie Oliver recently described Arthur as “the original green chef”.
Arthur trained with the Roux brothers and has gone on to work alongside industry ‘greats’ including Rose Gray & Ruth Rodgers at The River Cafe, Rowley Leigh at Kensington Place, Hugh Fernley-Wittingstall and Pierre Khoffman. He relaunched Cecconi’s restaurant and worked as executive head chef for Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Restaurant.
Arthur created two restaurants described as ‘sustainably aware urban restaurants’, Acorn House and the Water House. Arthur’s latest restaurant project is an organic ‘pop-up’, Mrs Paisley’s Lashings, profits go to organic education projects in London schools.
The People’s Supermarket is a not-for-profit co- operative social enterprise. It is a unique business model, with it’s member/owners working voluntarily. The aim is to keep costs low and good food cheap. The People’s Kitchen, within the supermarket, is also producing delicious food for sale in the supermarket.
Books:
The Acorn House Cook Book, (Hodder & Stoughton, 2008)
Broadcast:
Channel 4, Arthur’s Hell On High Water – part of Channel 4’s Food Fight Season January 2011.
Channel 4, Arthur’s People’s Supermarket, January 2011 (Optomen).
The People’s Supermarket: http://www.thepeoplessupermarket.org/
