‘Social supermarket’ could soon open its doors
A new “social supermarket” could soon launch in Sunderland helping to redistribute surplus food and supplies to deprived areas.
The Company Shop Group is the leading distributor of surplus food in the UK and works with manufacturers and brands to stop millions of surplus products going to landfill every year.
Company shops provide goods to “restricted customer groups” such as food manufacturing workers, police, the fire brigade and front line NHS workers.
Due to the success of an existing company shop in Washington, which opened in 2018, the Company Shop Group approached Sunderland City Council to open a community shop. As opposed to company shops, community shops provide relief to local communities and those receiving welfare support.
They are normally based in areas of social and economic deprivation offering discounted food and day-to-day products which would otherwise be thrown away.
A report to the council’s ruling cabinet described the model as a “social supermarket” which aims to improve the response to food insecurity and food waste.
The hubs also offer a range of services from debt support and employability skills to cooking clubs and budgeting workshops.
And any profits would be used to deliver development programmes.
Following discussion, council bosses agreed to work with the Company Shop Group to potentially set up a community shop on Wearside.
A report for city councillors states the project would support the council’s wider aims to include such things as reducing food waste.