Company Shop Group

📢 Congratulations to Gary Stott who received an Honorary Fellowship from Social Enterprise UK and entry into the Social Enterprise Hall of Fame at last night’s awards. From Community Shop's inception over a decade ago, to today’s network of stores supporting tens of thousands of people across the country, Gary has been the driving force behind its huge success. The Fellowship recognises those whose leadership, commitment, and vision have helped shape the social enterprise movement in ways that have made a real and lasting impact, and Gary has been instrumental in leading the Community Shop team to deliver positive impact on such a huge scale. Congratulations from everyone at Company Shop Group and Community Shop. 🙌 🙌

Operating a social enterprise alongside a commercial business has many benefits for both types of organisations. Today is #SocialEnterpriseDay so it's the perfect time to hear Gary Stott and Peter Holbrook CBE's thoughts about some of the benefits of being a social enterprise. 

As a social enterprise that's been operating for more than a decade, Community Shop is proof that doing good business and doing good can work together. Gary Stott, Executive Chairman of Community Shop, and Peter Holbrook CBE, CEO of Social Enterprise UK, have both worked in commercial and charity organisations but felt there must be a way to combine entrepreneurism and positive impact. Hear about their 'lightbulb' moments and how their move into social enterprises began 👇

Waste is one of the most urgent challenges we face. Everyday good food and useful products are being lost before they ever get used. We're here to help change that. We believe that no surplus products should go to waste, which is why we're always finding new ways to give surplus a second chance. If you can eat it, use it or wear it, we can handle it. So, if you've got surplus, get in touch and see how we can help you: https://zurl.co/jlefW

Come and say hello to the team and find out how you can help create a world where no surplus products go to waste.

Have you got surplus but you're not sure what to do with it? We're here to help. If you can eat it, use it or wear it, we can handle it. Our innovative solutions mean that we can take stock anywhere in the supply chain and transform it into value for people, the planet and for you. See how we can help you: https://zurl.co/sHAtA

There are around 131,000 social enterprises with a combined turnover of £60 billion, proving that good business and doing good can work together. But what benefits can social enterprises have on businesses? Why are more businesses choosing a social enterprise model? And how has the perception of social enterprise changed over the years? We caught up with Gary Stott, Executive Chairman of Community Shop, and Peter Holbrook CBE, CEO of Social Enterprise UK, to get the answers to these questions and many more, including their own ‘lightbulb’ moment about the social enterprise movement. Grab a cuppa and watch the full video here: https://lnkd.in/eiEcJcaq

Over the past five years we've stopped 39 million units of raw meat from going to waste. Raw meat is one of the most resource-intensive foods to produce so the potential lost value from waste is significant, highlighting the need for efficient capture and redistribution of surplus. In the last three years the volumes we've redistributed has grown by 50% and we've invested in new solutions to stop surplus becoming waste. Find out more here: https://zurl.co/RbAr0

Community Shop Kirkdale, is celebrating five years since it opened, and it's had a significant impact on the local community: 👨👨👦👦 Supported more than 3,400 families 👩🏫 Delivered nearly 37,000 development programmes 💰 Saved members more than £4.3m on their shopping 👩🍳 Served more than 58,000 free children’s meals The store opened at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic when families across the area were experiencing deep social isolation and disconnection. Community Shop has become a vital hub, helping to rebuild connections and provide a safe inclusive space where local people can come together, feel part of something, and access the help and support they need. Thanks to our partners Nestlé , Ocado Retail , Onward Homes , Everton in the Community and Riverside for their support opening this store.

Community Shop is our award-winning social enterprise and the UK's first social supermarket, tackling the root causes of food insecurity in communities as a result of social inequality. Our three interconnecting spaces – Community Store, Community Hub and Community Kitchen – use donated surplus products to provide a sustainable support model for thousands of families each year. As a social enterprise, Community Shop reinvests the profits from the store into learning and development opportunities, bringing communities together and improving peoples’ circumstances for the long-term. We’re proud of the positive impact that our teams deliver every day, helping build stronger individuals and more confident communities. Find out more about Community Shop: https://zurl.co/byFm7