Pioneering food redistribution supermarket, that helps the environment while giving members discounts on their favourite food brands, has launched in Renfrew, Scotland for the first time.

An innovative supermarket, where police officers, fire-fighters, the ambulance service and NHS workers can carry out their weekly shop for up to 60% off the normal retail price, has launched in Renfrew, Scotland for the first time today (18 December 2019).

Company Shop Renfrew, which operates on a free membership model, is based in the Blythswood Retail Park and will save tonnes of perfectly good food and products from going to waste each year – enabling members to access discounted food and household goods from their favourite brands, while helping the environment.

Membership is open to anyone in Scotland who works in the NHS, Emergency Services and in the fast-moving consumer goods supply chain. It is expected that the new store will benefit 24,000 local members in its first year, while creating 80 jobs for the Renfrewshire area.

Company Shop Group is the UK’s leading redistribution supermarket and already operates a chain of stores across England. The company prevents good food and household products from going to waste by purchasing surplus food and consumer goods from household brands such as Waitrose, Nestle, Iceland and Tesco before redistributing the products at deeply discounted prices to members.

All the food sold within the store is in date and perfectly good to eat but is deemed “surplus” and may have otherwise gone to waste due to incorrect or wonky labelling, seasonal packaging or overstock – amongst other reasons.
The opening of the Group’s first store in Scotland follows the rapid expansion of the pioneering redistribution model in recent years, with more Scottish stores planned for 2020.

Jane Marren, Managing Director of Company Shop, said:

“We are delighted to officially open our first Scottish store here in Renfrew. This is an area with a thriving food manufacturing industry and hard-working families who will benefit hugely from accessing discounted food in our stores which might otherwise have gone go to waste."

“Our model helps businesses to reduce waste, protect the planet, feed hard-working families and support communities. We are hugely grateful for all of the support we have received so far, including from our long-standing retail partners, members, local organisations and the wider community.”

Derek Mackay, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy & Fair Work, and MSP for Renfrewshire North & West, said:

“The resale of surplus food to prevent waste is a fantastic initiative as it will save money and prevent wastage of perfectly good food whilst also passing discounts on to local members. At this time of climate crisis, this is exactly the kind of enterprise and forward thinking that we need. I would encourage local food manufacturers to consider signing up.”

Councillor John Shaw, Ward Councillor for Renfrew North and Braehead, said: 

“I am delighted that Company Shop has chosen Renfrew as the location of their first store in Scotland. As the UK’s leading redistributor of food and household surplus stock, Company Shop is bringing a whole new business concept to the area which will benefit many local residents both in terms of the eighty new jobs the site will bring and the deep discounts enjoyed by members.”