UK shoppers saved £130million on their food bills in 2024 through the Company Shop Group, according to their latest impact report.
Community Shop Lambeth saved members £792,000 through redistributing 324 tonnes of surplus stock.
This provided the equivalent of 770,000 meals for individuals and their families last year.
Company Shop Group managing director Chris Burns said: “I’m so proud to be part of an organisation that transforms surplus into meaningful impact.
“Over the past year, we’ve supported more families, saved more products from going to waste and strengthened our partnerships across the industry.
“This report highlights not just the numbers, but the lives we’ve changed along the way.
“We’re committed to doing more in the coming year, because every surplus product saved is an opportunity to create value for people, planet, and industry.”
Community Shop, the social enterprise arm of Company Shop Group and the UK’s first social supermarket, works to tackle food insecurity in communities experiencing social inequality.
Surplus products were redistributed to Community Shop members, helping to transform waste into value for people and planet.
Membership to Community Shop is open to those on means-tested benefits who live in the area.
The Community Shops around the country fed 120,000 children for free through its Community Kitchens, helping 3,100 people get into higher education and 2,800 people back into work.
Members saved £11.8million on shopping through Community stores.
Community Shop executive chairman Gary Stott said: “In 2024, Community Shops around the country have continued to deliver life-changing support to individuals, families and communities.
“This year we launched our white paper on the future of food aid in the UK, which demonstrated our deep commitment to creating long-lasting change and tackling food insecurity at its roots.
“We’re equipped and ready to drive this mission forward in the years to come.”
Last year, the Company Shop Group redistributed the equivalent of 110million meals to individuals and families across the UK.
This also had a significant environmental impact, saving 124,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, the equivalent of removing over 72,000 cars from the road for a year.
Head to the Company Shop Groups’ website for more information.
Featured image credit: Copyright Jack Gavigan 2009
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