The food is all still in date and ‘perfectly safe to consume’ but comes at a reduced price
A unique supermarket where shoppers can pick up food and alcohol at hugely discounted prices is undergoing a huge makeover. Company Shop in St Helens is set to re-launch on Wednesday, December 18 with a new look – and a new name. The store will be rebranded as The Surplus Supermarket, making it the second of its kind in the UK.
The Company Shop Group works to redistribute surplus food and household products, from beans to butter. Since its opening in 2018, Company Shop St Helens has saved local shoppers a whopping £40m through its discounted prices and distributed an incredible 19,000 tonnes of surplus stock. By stopping these perfectly good products from going to waste, the equivalent of 52,000 tonnes of CO2 have also been saved.
The refurbished and refitted store will open its doors next week, with free hot drinks for customers. The St Helens branch is one of 13 Company Shop stores across the UK, providing members with access to surplus items at significantly reduced prices. The products sold are always in date and perfectly safe to use or consume but are classed as ‘surplus’ for many reasons such as mislabelled packaging, seasonal stock, or overproduction.
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Ian Ward, Store Manager at Company Shop St Helens, said: “We are proud to have supported people in St Helens for almost seven years and we are excited to share the improved store with our members. People’s budgets remain tight, and I am pleased that we continue to support thousands of people every week by providing our members with high-quality, great value products, and reduce unnecessary food waste in the process.”
Gemma Edlin, Head of Retail at Company Shop Group, said: “We’re delighted to be re-launching Company Shop St Helens after seven years of delivering positive impact through redistributing surplus products. Company Shop stores across the country and in St Helens are a lifeline to so many and we’re delighted to continue giving our members access to high quality products at low prices all whilst reducing waste.”
Company Shop membership is open to those working in the FMCG supply chain, the NHS, care and emergency services, social care, prison services, British Armed Forces and employees and volunteers for registered charities. Those on means-tested benefits can also benefit from membership. You can find out more here.