It was founded in Leeds in 1977 and is now based in Elland, West Yorkshire.

The co-operative specializes in vegetarian, fairly traded, organic, ethical, ecological and natural products.

Its turnover for the year ending 2019 was reported as £54 million, ranking it 49th among British co-operatives.

[1][3] Suma was started in 1975 by Reg Tayler, who had worked with wholefoods in London.

In August 1975, at a meeting with all the wholefood shops in the north of England, he proposed they set up wholefoods wholesaling co-operative in order to supply each other.