As retailers and manufacturers continue to unveil their annual Christmas adverts, and new seasonal product ranges take over supermarket shelves, Company Shop Group is gearing up to be the industry’s secret surplus Santa in its busiest shift of the year.

As the UK’s number one redistributor, the Group’s mission to ensure no seasonal surplus goes to waste doesn’t end straight after the “big day”. Instead, its surplus experts are working all winter to ensure thousands of tonnes of Christmas food and products are reaching people as first intended.

In the last three years, Company Shop Group has redistributed over 500,000 turkeys, 100 miles worth of wrapping paper, and almost 1.3 million mince pies. These are all products that were perfectly good to eat, use, or wear, but for a variety of reasons didn’t quite make it to the final festivities.

During the three-year period, 73% of the turkey products, mince pies, Christmas puddings and wrapping paper handled were sold by Company Shop Group from January onwards. Once again this year, the Group expects to handle a minimum of over 12,000 tonnes of surplus over the next few months alone, returning at least £11.5m back to the industry on otherwise wasted stock.

Luckily for the left-over chocolate boxes, pigs in blankets and snowflake-packaged gift sets, the majority of Christmas surplus handled by Company Shop Group is redistributed and eagerly purchased by members well into the New Year.

This is because, as revealed in its latest member survey, 87% of members* said they are happy to consume the festive treats after their metaphorical sell-by date, with 46% recognising that the products are perfectly good at any time of year, in addition to the economic and environmental benefits.

With 14 Company Shop stores across the UK and 2 of those stores in Scotland (Renfrew and Edinburgh), members can pick up great value products at around 50% discount from RRP, that is still perfectly good to eat or use.

Despite inflation rates easing, recent reports suggest that a third of UK consumers will be spending less on their Christmas groceries this year. This is likely to leave retailers and manufacturers with excess stock even before the Christmas countdown is over.

With the Group offering commercial, social and environmental returns at a time when businesses are experiencing increased squeezes on margins and looking to maximise the value of all possible assets, plus a host of intervention processes for any unfinished as well as finished products, it ensures a valuable one stop shop solution to any disappointing seasonal sell-through.

For those Scottish businesses that haven’t yet experienced the benefits of partnering with Company Shop Group, the Group are offering tailored guided tours of their Renfrew store in January 2024.

Register your interest by emailing angus.bell@companyshop.co.uk

• *1,802 members surveyed from 16th-23rd November 2023