The store has been rebranded as ‘The Surplus Supermarket’, with the opening marked with a special ribbon cutting ceremony on 15 August that was attended by Mayor of the East Midlands Claire Ward and local MP Adam Thompson.
This relaunch is the latest step in the Company Shop Group’s wider rollout of its ‘Surplus Supermarket’ brand and commitment to reducing waste, supporting households with affordable food and helping the industry to find solutions to surplus.
Company Shop Long Eaton is one of 13 Company Shop stores across the UK, all of which provide members with access to surplus food and household products from major retailers and manufacturers at reduced prices.
Since first opening its doors in May 2020, Company Shop Long Eaton has delivered £32 million in savings for its members, redistributed 13,111 tonnes of surplus products and delivered the equivalent of 31 million meals to local households.
Membership at Company Shop is free for people working in the FMCG supply chain, NHS, emergency services, social care, prison services, the British Armed Forces and employees and volunteers of registered charities. Those in receipt of means-tested benefits can also apply.
Linda Bunkle, store manager at Company Shop Long Eaton, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome members into our newly transformed store and celebrate this next chapter with the community. Since 2020, we’ve seen first-hand how challenging times can be for many families, and, as the cost-of-living crisis continues to affect so many, our mission is more vital than ever.
“This relaunch affirms our mission to make good food accessible and affordable while reducing unnecessary waste at scale. Working in partnership with the UK’s leading manufacturers, we were able to redistribute 113 million products last year – saving UK shoppers £130 million on their food bills – and it’s local stores like Long Eaton that play a vital part in ensuring that surplus stock is directed into the community. We look forward to continuing to continuing to provide a great service to thousands of members across the local area.”
Gemma Edlin, head of retail at Company Shop Group, added: “The re-launch of Company Shop Long Eaton under ‘The Surplus Supermarket’ banner marks an exciting step forward in our ongoing journey to tackle surplus and food insecurity. Our members are at the heart of everything we do, and this transformation enables us to serve them better, while reinforcing our commitment to reducing waste across the UK supply chain. We look forward to diverting even more perfectly good product from waste and onto people’s plates, where they belong.”
