First social supermarket opens selling ‘surplus’ food - but only to local people receiving welfare support

The UK’s first “social supermarket” is to open in South Yorkshire, selling surplus food for as little as 30 per cent of the normal price (Getty)

The UK’s first “social supermarket” has opened in South Yorkshire, selling surplus food and household products for as little as 30 per cent of the normal price.

Community Shop, in Goldthorpe, Barnsley, will sell its cheap produce solely to people who live in the nearby area and are receiving welfare support.

The food, which will be “within date and wholesome”, comes from surpluses at major retailers created by forecasting errors, seasonal promotions and packaging faults.

Customers will also get advice on debt, budgeting and writing CVs, and learn cookery skills. If the pilot scheme is successful, stores could open elsewhere.

Sarah Dunwell, a Community Shop spokeswoman, said: "Industry surplus is hard to avoid, but what Community Shop shows is that if we all work together we can make sure that surplus food delivers lasting social good."

Steve Murrells, of The Co-operative Group, said the shop would help cut the amount of waste sent to landfill and tackle "the increasing social problem of food poverty".

Tim Lang, professor of food policy at City University London, said the food retail sector was in "some turmoil".

"Its famously ruthless efficiency is hitting a brick wall: how to address mounting evidence of social inequalities, environmental impact and widening health divides," he said. "In this context, the social supermarket is an important experiment."