A new community shop lets people choose affordable groceries

Shoppers in Newcastle-under-Lyme can choose groceries at cost price or below through a new social supermarket, with membership costing £1 a year.

Community Cupboard NUL CIC sells tokens that members spend on food they want. Founder Thomas Cliffe developed the idea after his own household struggled financially but could not access some support.

The organisation’s website says the supermarket is open to everyone. Its separate emergency food-parcel service has eligibility criteria, so the shop provides another route for people who need help.

Early customer accounts are encouraging, although they cannot establish typical savings or lasting food security. Researcher Claire O’Malley told the BBC that social supermarkets should supplement government support.

A carer visiting after a night shift said she had spent £20 and still had tokens left. Another customer, Fiona Morris, who finds large supermarkets overwhelming, said staff understood her. Alongside lower prices, the new shop is giving people a more comfortable place to buy their food.

Sources

• BBC — Cost of living struggles inspire ‘social supermarket’
• Community Cupboard — supermarket and emergency food support