A STORE in Bradford which sells surplus products is celebrating its first anniversary, having helped its members to collectively save more than £4.25 million so far.

Since the redistribution supermarket, Company Shop, opened in the Peel Centre on Canal Road this time last year, it has redistributed more than 2,000 tonnes of surplus food and household products. This is the equivalent of more than 700 Olympic-size swimming pools, that otherwise may have gone to waste.

To celebrate the occasion, Company Shop Bradford decked out the store with balloons and decorations and members were treated to a range of exclusive deals.

All surplus products sold in Company Shop stores are in date and perfectly good to eat, use or wear, but were bought from major retailers and manufacturers due to things like seasonal packaging or overstock. As a result, they’re sold for typically 50 per cent less than their normal retail price.

The store operates on a membership basis and is open to employees and pension recipients of the NHS, emergency services, social care, FMCG supply chain, British Armed Forces, prison services and registered charities. Membership is also open to those in receipt of means-tested benefits.

Bradford store manager Dion Nacca said: “We’re delighted to be celebrating the first birthday of Company Shop Bradford. Since we first opened our doors last year, the response and support we’ve received from the local community has been simply incredible.

“It’s brilliant to be able to say that in just one year we’ve helped thousands of members, many of whom are key workers, collectively save millions of pounds on their shopping. For hard-working families like these, these types of savings can really make an immense difference.

“At the same time, we’re enormously proud to doing our part as waste prevention warriors to help local businesses ensure their surplus finds a good home, positively impacting on the environment and ultimately reducing waste.”

Company Shop Bradford is part of Company Shop Group’s UK-wide network of 15 superstores and its members can buy food and household products at discounted prices.

Over the course of 2020, the Group redistributed more than 80 million surplus items - saving over 28,000 tonnes of surplus from going to waste.

It also saved its members across the group a collective £64 million on their shopping.

The firm has two divisions - Company Shop, its retail operation, and award-winning social enterprise, Community Shop.

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