The owners of a sustainable supermarket have thanked staff, suppliers and customers after announcing the company would fold.

Hisbe supermarket announced that it would be permanently closing after over a decade of trading citing the cost-of-living crisis and Covid among some of the pressures on the store.

Owners Ruth Anslow and Jack Simmonds thanked customers for the “love and concern” they showed to the store, calling the decision to close “very painful”.

A statement on the business’s social media channels said: “We were following a strategic turnaround plan and slowly trading our way back, but ultimately could not weather the cumulative impacts of Covid, inflation and the cost-of-living crisis.

“Right now, we are hurting and exhausted.

The Argus: Amy Anslow, Jack Simmonds and Ruth AnslowAmy Anslow, Jack Simmonds and Ruth Anslow

“But we are also thankful for this journey – and grateful to every supplier, customer, staff member, investor and supporter who was part of it. Together we created something beautiful and kept it going for 10 years, against all the odds.

“We hope that our rebel supermarket sowed a seed of change - and we trust that the important work to transform the food industry will continue through others.”

An email was sent to suppliers on Wednesday confirming that the business would go into liquidation.

The supermarket’s stores in York Place in Brighton and Portland Road in Worthing will both close.

Hisbe, standing for “how it should be”, say that more than £15 million was spent by customers and that £10 million benefitted more than 100 independent suppliers, many of whom were from Sussex.

The supermarket also said all staff had been paid in full for their shifts and holiday in December and January and would receive notice payments.

The news comes after the business said it was “pausing trading” earlier this year.

Hisbe first started trading in 2010 when sisters Ruth and Amy Anslow set up the shop. It prided itself on offering products “thoughtfully sourced from small, local producers and brands that trade responsibly, fairly and sustainably”, according to its website.

In May last year Hisbe launched a crowdfunding campaign saying that they have been in “survival mode” and were also looking to open a store in Lewes this year.