PLMR client, Community Shop, which is the UK’s first social supermarket chain, is celebrating scooping two national award wins at the Social Enterprise UK Awards this week.
The pioneering social enterprise, which was founded in 2013 by PLMR client and largest redistributor of surplus food and household products in the UK, Company Shop, picked up the awards for Prove It: Social Impact and Transformative Community Business.
The award wins follow another hugely successful year for Community Shop, which revealed it has created nearly 10 million meals from its four stores, to support 14,000 families in the last year alone.
Based in some of the lowest income communities in the UK, Community Shop redistributes good food at low prices, to the people who need it most but can afford it least. Stocked with donated surplus food and products from retailers, manufacturers and brands, the innovative social enterprise tackles the dual challenge of food waste and food poverty.
Membership to the store is open to people who live locally and receive some form of welfare support. When members shop in store, the revenue raised powers the activity of the Community Hub and the Community Kitchen, where the team engage, inspire and connect with every member who comes through the doors. From debt advice and employability skills, to cook club and home budgeting, Community Shop supports members to live more independent lives.
Eve Preston, Account Manager at PLMR said:
“It’s absolutely brilliant news that Community Shop has picked up two major national awards at the Social Enterprise Awards this week. It is a hugely deserved win and testament to the energy, commitment and passion of the whole team across Company Shop and Community Shop and of whom we are so proud to work with here at PLMR. I am so proud to be a leading Member of our Team alongside Tim Knight and Kevin Craig and we are thrilled at Company Shop’s recognition.
“Community Shop is a budding example of an organisation with a powerful source for social good, and it’s truly fitting that the transformative work being delivering in communities across the UK, has been recognised with this double national award win.”