Miriam Cates, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, has praised the work of Company Shop Group in helping to level up the UK, during a visit to its headquarters in Barnsley.

Company Shop Group has stores across England and Scotland. It works with all the major retailers, manufacturers and brands to handle food and products that may otherwise go to waste, and safely redistributes them at deeply discounted prices across its network of Company Shop and Community Shop stores.

Ms Cates met with Gary Stott, Executive Chairman of Community Shop, and Chris Meadows, Marketing and Communications Director at Company Shop Group, to see first-hand how the surplus redistributor saves millions of perfectly good products from going to waste and learn more about how it is helping to level up communities.

Company Shop Group is home to its retail operation, Company Shop, and an award-winning social enterprise, Community Shop. Company Shop is a network of 15 member-only supermarkets across England and Scotland open to those working in the NHS, FMCG Supply Chain and more.

Community Shop is open to anyone who lives locally and receives welfare support, is on a low income and is motivated to make a positive change to their lives. Community Shop stores also offers life-changing personal development support, which includes everything from cook clubs and home budgeting, to interview skills, debt advice and business courses.

Sustainability is at the centre of the Group’s model, and its Community Shops work closely with members and communities over a long-term, sustained basis without requiring ongoing monetary support to deliver sustainable and positive social, economic and environmental benefits.

Levelling up is a key policy priority for the UK Government, as it looks to ensure that wherever people are from in the UK, the same access to opportunities is available. The hard work of organisations like Company Shop Group is helping to make this possible. 

Miriam Cates, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, said: 

“It was a pleasure to visit Company Shop Group and learn more about how they are helping to build up communities across the UK through their surplus redistribution model. Their positive commercial, social, and environmental impact is really inspiring, and epitomises the vital role that businesses can play in helping to level up the country.”

Gary Stott, Executive Chairman of Community Shop, said: 

“We were delighted to welcome Miriam Cates to Company Shop Group to demonstrate the scope of the work we are delivering. We are passionate that all of our stores help bolster and support the communities they are situated within, and we are proud to be making a difference to regions across the UK.”