Asda and social supermarket chain Community Shop are joining forces to open a new store in Swarcliffe, Leeds, next month. The site will provide local people in need with access to discounted surplus food and household items, as well as cheap hot meals, skills workshops and further learning opportunities.
The new store will be the 14th in Community Shop’s network of social supermarkets, each of which aims to tackle the root causes of food insecurity in communities experiencing social inequality.
The latest store is being supported by Leeds-based Asda, who have worked with Community Shop on its other stores for over a decade through the donation of surplus products. The Swarcliffe store will see Asda continuing to donate stock, while also providing funding towards fixtures and fittings that will enable a building to be converted into Community Shop’s three-space format.
Community Shop stores operate on a free membership basis and are open to those on means-tested benefits who live in the local area. They provide members with access to deeply discounted food and essentials, including fruit, vegetables and bread for only 20p. The profits from the store will be reinvested into Community Hub initiatives that aim to improve people’s circumstances and address the causes of their food insecurity.
Since its inception in 2013, Community Shop has saved its members over £50m on their regular food shops, whilst its Community Hubs have delivered more than 218,000 development programmes and Community Kitchens have fed over 880,000 children for free.
Kris Comerford, Chief Commercial Officer at Asda, said: “As a Leeds-based business, we’re excited to be supporting the local community in Swarcliffe through our work with the new Community Shop. Through discounted products and the learning opportunities on offer, we hope this store can provide life-changing support and make a lasting difference to those in the area.”
Gary Stott, Executive Chairman of Community Shop, added: “For the past 12 years, Community Shop has not only provided our members with access to deeply discounted goods but also delivered life-changing programmes and holistic support so that our members develop their own capabilities and deliver a positive future for themselves. We’re delighted to continue our mission, empowering individuals, families, and communities across the Leeds area and I thank Asda for their support in helping us open this new store.”
NAM Implications:
- A worthy charitable initiative…
- …but also a pointer for rivals.
