Social grocery store ‘helps me to afford Christmas’ | EUROtoday

A buyer of a social grocery store has stated she “can afford a few extras for Christmas” due to the cash she saves there on her weekly groceries.

Yazz Gough, who goes to the Re:dish Good Stuff within the Reddish space of Stockport, Greater Manchester, stated: “I save a fortune because I’ve got two teenage kids at home who never stop eating!”

The 56-year outdated stated: “I buy a lot of the fresh fruit and vegetables to make things like apple strudels, chips or shepherd’s pie, so it has cut the cost of my midweek shop.”

Red:ish Good Stuff – open twice every week and funded by Stockport Council and native companies together with Vernon Building Society – expenses clients £4 every week. So far it has about 330 members.

The social grocery store opened in June 2024 to supply low-cost, good high quality, contemporary and wholesome meals to individuals in Reddish, Heaton Norris and Heaton Chapel who’re battling the price of their weekly groceries.

Social supermarkets sometimes function on a membership mannequin.

It prices £5 to develop into a member of the Re:dish Good Stuff and £4 for every go to.

Members can select one merchandise from every desk/freezer/space plus a number of objects of fruit and greens.

The charity collects surplus meals from giant supermarkets and wholesalers which might in any other case go to waste.

For instance, they promote extra seasonal items like ice cream, which supermarkets battle to promote in chilly climate.

The selection of family groceries varies every week, relying upon what is out there.

Re:dish’s CEO Lynn Brandwood stated: “The main difference between us and a food bank is that there’s no referral needed, so it’s open to everybody in the community.

“You get proven round by a private shopper so that you get the prospect for a chat and the financial savings imply there’s cash for hire, payments, Christmas presents or an evening out.”

Social supermarkets typically place an emphasis on fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as frozen items which can be used to create a meal.

Sue Bredbury, from Reddish, said: “I picked up luxurious objects like strawberries and ice cream right now however getting the greens right here actually means I can get monetary savings.”

The 63-year-old added: “Being capable of come right here and pay £4 to get the majority of the week’s buying is wonderful.”

Re:dish Good Stuff store also stocks seasonal items like Christmas crackers.

Mandy Carter, also from Reddish, told BBC Radio Manchester: “Each week is totally different, so it might be potatoes, onions, tomatoes and carrots to assist make issues like soup.”

The 69-year-old added: “It helps me out quite a bit, so I’m not frightened about placing on the central heating to maintain the home heat and I reside fairly properly.”