New cut-price store planned for Renfrew

A new supermarket will sell surplus retail stock at knockdown prices under fresh plans.

Company Shop wants to open a superstore flogging food and household goods donated by other firms for up to 60 per cent off.

Expansion will see the business move into Renfrewshire – with the first Scottish branch proposed for Renfrew.

Details of the move have been set out in a report lodged with planners.

It states: “Company Shop is a commercial redistributor of surplus food and household products in the UK.

“Currently, the brand has no Scottish locations. A move into Renfrewshire represents an expansion of the company into Scotland.

“Company Shop is a membership only store which sells the goods at a discounted price to those who work in the food manufacturing supply chain, emergency services or the NHS.

“The business model allows for larger retailer manufacturers, food service and logistics providers to sell on or donate their surplus stock to Company Shop which may have otherwise been discarded.

“This allows companies to achieve a financial return on products which they would otherwise pay to dispose of and also helps them achieve their corporate social responsibility commitments.

“Due to the business model there are daily stock changes and an inconsistent nature to the goods which are sold.

“This means it is not possible for individuals to complete their primary convenience shop within the facility and so the Company Shop is more of a ‘top up’ to traditional food retailing.

“Customers tend to bulk buy to fill their freezers with whatever is available in the shop on the day.”

Company Shop collects excess stock from major retailers and sells it on.

It says it cuts down on waste being sent to landfill and claims to have helped create 30 million meals from excess ingredients.

Shoppers can only spend if they become members.

Entry is open to those working in the food manufacturing sector, NHS staff and blue-light workers.

Bosses have applied for permission to convert a former warehouse into a shop on the town’s Blythwood Retail Park in West Lodge Road.

The firm currently runs six stores across England.

And it revealed there are plans to launch more branches – opening membership up to all customers.

The report adds: “Company Shop is aiming to open four stores in the first instance in Scotland – two Company Shops and two Community Shops.

“Company Shop aims to locate these to the west side and east side of Glasgow in the first instance.

“Renfrewshire has been identified as the preferred west side of Glasgow location for the first of the two Company Shops.

“In addition to the retail aspect, each Company Shop also incorporates a storage, distribution and processing component.

“Stock is delivered to Company Shop where it is processed for resale.

“It is stored prior to sale and distributed both to the adjoining members’ foodstore and any nearby Community Shops on a hub-andspoke type model.”

A decision on the application is due next month.

Customers tend to bulk buy to fill their freezers with whatever is available