Company Shop customers can save money on their groceries, by taking advantage of special prices on excess and short-dated stock.
The Company Shop is a UK-based, membership supermarket chain that specialises in selling surplus products from major retailers and brands. These products often become surplus due to overproduction, labelling errors, or packaging issues.
These surplus products, normally destined for landfill, anaerobic digestion, or animal feed, are diverted, enabling millions of households in the UK to consume them through a network of member-only supermarkets.
The products aren't available to the general public; instead, these products are offered to those people who are currently:
Employees in the food and drink industry
Emergency services personnel
Social care workers
Armed forces personnel
Benefits recipients
Retired employees from qualifying sectors
Existing members can also nominate friends or family members for membership. These extra members don’t have to meet the membership criteria, but they can't then nominate other people!
If you fit into the above categories, you need to apply for membership. This will allow you to go to a Company Shop or Community Shop and save money on household groceries.
How The Company Shop Operates:
The company sources surplus goods from various suppliers, who have excess stocks of grocery products that won't be used in the intended manner. These goods are then diverted from being sent to landfill and offered at discounted prices to clear the stock quickly and ensure that perfectly edible food or household products aren't wasted when they could be used.
Products undergo quality checks to ensure they are safe for consumption, so there is no risk of food that isn't suitable for consumption getting into the food chain.
Company Shop Group also operates Community Shop, a social enterprise focused on supporting communities in need. Community Shop provides discounted food and offers personal development programs.
All goods purchased from Company Shop are for personal consumption only and are not to be resold!
Where are the shops located?
There are 13 Company Shops in the UK, and you can find a list of the store locations below:
Bradford Directions
Corby Directions
Darlington Directions
Dudley Directions
Grimsby Directions
Leicester Directions
Long Eaton Directions
Middleton Directions
Renfrew Directions
St.Helens Directions
Southampton Directions
Washington Directions
Wentworth (Barnsley) Directions
The Company Shop redistributes a wide range of products, including fruit and vegetables, meat and poultry, dairy, pasta, rice and pulses, tinned products, confectionery, and soft drinks, as well as non-food products such as household cleaners, clothing, and toys, form both small businesses and big name brands/retailers such as the brands below:"
Company Shop Group provided tailored surplus solutions to over 800 retail and manufacturing partners in 2024.
How effective is the Company Shop in regards to getting surplus food to those people who need it?
In 2024, Company Shop Group redistributed over 46,000 tonnes of food and drink, the equivalent of 110 million meals, to individuals and families across the UK, the same as feeding the entire population 1.6 times. This also had a significant environmental impact, saving 124,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, the equivalent of removing over 72,000 cars from the road for a year.
Community Shop, the social enterprise arm of Company Shop Group and the UK’s first social supermarket, worked to tackle food insecurity in communities experiencing social inequality. Through its Community stores, members saved £11.8 million on shopping, Community Kitchens fed 120,000 children for free, and Community Hubs delivered 54,000 development programmes, helping 3,100 people into higher education and 2,800 people through their progress academy.
How to apply to use The Company Shop
If you qualify for the free membership, you'll need to complete an application form on the Company Shop Group website.
Once accepted, and they say it can take up to 3 working days to get your membership accepted, you can then go to your nearest store and collect your membership card. To do this, you'll need to take one of the following documents with you when collecting your membership card:
Your most recent digital or printed payslip (must be from the last 30 days)
Proof of means-tested benefits or proof of qualifying pension/eligibility
Proof of name and address (e.g., utility bill, bank statement)
Photo ID (if you do not have a photo ID, you may bring a signed bank card and statement)
What's my view on The Company Shop?
I will just say that my wife works for social services and has applied for membership twice, and both times, she never received a reply, so it is probably worth calling or emailing them if this happens to you as well!
The idea is great, though; the service is offering discounts to potentially vulnerable people, as well as ensuring that as much excess food products are made good use of, rather than being sent to landfills.
I've not been able to check prices personally, but feedback is that the prices are below the normal prices you'd find in supermarkets, plus you'll often find items that you won't find in your local supermarket, but with all these types of discount stores, do a quick price comparison on sites such as Trolley, to make sure the price you're paying is the best price you can get; it's very easy to get caught up in the excitement of being in a 'bargain store' and not realise that the price you're paying, may not be the most competitive price after all!~
It's a shame that this excess food isn't available to everyone, but there is only so much to go around. If you are struggling for food, speak to The Trussell Trust for advice and access to food banks. Apps such as Olio and Too Good To Go can also be useful ways to save a few quid on groceries.
If you're struggling with debt, call the National Debt Helpline on 0808 808 4000 for impartial financial advice.