A social supermarket selling surplus items for a bargain 25 pence is offering an alternative to food banks.
The Bargain Brand Food Outlet in Newquay stocks food that has been rejected by supermarkets, allowing its 20 year old owner Charlotte Danks to sell it at a discount price.
Charlotte opened the social supermarket in June to help others struggling to feed their families.
She stocks products nearing their sell-by date (which is, of course, very different from their “use by” date) or that have been rejected by supermarkets due to manufacturing faults, such as damaged packaging or incorrect labelling. Supermarkets and distribution centres get in contact with her when they have stock they are unable to sell which she collects it in her van.
All the produce is perfectly fine, but the supermarket has to get it off its shelves and it would otherwise end up straight in landfill. Charlotte is planning to open further stores in the next year with St Austell a priority location.
Hi do you need a referral to come here or is it open to everyone
This News post is about 7 years old and, unfortunately, the project appears to have been an economic victim of the pandemic. The idea seems to have caught on in other parts of the country though. Worth keeping an eye on Google for updates on who is doing what and where.