Circular Economy Minister praises surplus supermarket Company Shop Edinburgh

28/07/2022
Circular Economy Minister visits Company Shop Edinburgh

LORNA Slater MSP, the Scottish Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy, and Biodiversity, has praised Company Shop Edinburgh during a visit to learn more about the surplus supermarket’s redistribution model.

Company Shop Edinburgh is part of Company Shop Group, which is at the forefront of tackling food waste in Scotland. Lorna Slater met with Chris Meadows, Marketing and Communications Director at Company Shop Group, and Sally Measom, Client Relationships and Policy Advisor, who shared the Group’s insights with the Minister, and demonstrated how it supports businesses with combatting waste by redistributing millions of perfectly good surplus products through its stores each year.

The visit followed the launch of two Scottish Government consultations into delivering a circular economy, which will examine measures aiming to reduce waste and keep products and materials in use for as long as possible.

Company Shop Group is the UK’s largest surplus redistribution organisation and has 15 Company Shop stores, including in Edinburgh and Renfrew. Its vision is that no products should go to waste and if they are good to eat, use and wear should fulfil their intended purpose. It is a trusted partner of retailers, manufacturers, and brands across the country.

Company Shop is open to those working in the NHS, emergency services, social care (care homes, hospices) food manufacturing supply chain, British Armed Forces, prison services, those working for a registered charity and those on means tested benefits.

Members at Company Shop Edinburgh can access food and products from their favourite household brands – including M&S, Nestle, Iceland and Tesco – at deeply discounted prices, which helps to stretch family budgets. 

In 2021 Company Shop Edinburgh saved its members almost £3m on their shopping bills and stopped over 1,500 tonnes of surplus from needlessly going to waste.  

Lorna Slater MSP, the Scottish Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy, and Biodiversity said:

“It was great to visit the Company Shop Edinburgh store, which is a perfect example of the excellent work being undertaken to support Scotland’s move towards a circular economy.

“I was impressed to learn more about how Company Shop Group is helping to reduce waste and provide vital support for families while enabling businesses to turn their surplus into something positive, and I would encourage any businesses looking to do so to get in touch.”

Chris Meadows, Marketing and Communications Director at Company Shop Group, said:

“We were delighted to host Ms Slater at Company Shop Edinburgh and for the minister to recognise the important work we do to reduce food waste.

“Surplus doesn’t have to mean waste, and through the work we do with our partners we make sure we turn it into something positive for people and the planet. Everything you see in our stores is because of the partnerships we have in place with businesses across the whole supply chain, and we encourage anyone who wants to reduce their waste as part of their environmental and net zero targets to get in touch.”

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