New 10p-per-item social enterprise supermarket Nifties has secured a permanent high street site.
The supermarket, located in Dover, was created to bridge the gap between food poverty and normality by selling damaged or short-dated wholesale and supermarket goods which would otherwise go to waste.
During a week-long trial, the store sold more than 1,600 branded products priced between 5p-70p. Creator Nathaniel Richardson has now signed a 12-month lease on the site with help from community volunteers and donations from local businesses.
Products are bought or donated from a range of wholesalers and suppliers and HMRC also allows the store to purchase ambient products they have repossessed for a fraction of the wholesale price.
Despite having approached the big four for participation, Nifties has been unable to secure purchase agreements with any of the major supermarkets and is not eligible to join the Tesco food redistribution scheme due to stringent minimum turnover requirements.
Currently closed for refurbishment, Nifties will reopen for business on 4 July. During the trial, it attracted a wide range of demographics including the elderly, families and school children.
“I’ve been on unemployment benefits and zero hour contracts in the past and I’ve had to use food banks,” said Richardson.
“I know how hard, demotivating and demoralising it is to have to go to a food bank. I decided I was doing this and I started it in my living room. I had a room full of stock and doing deliveries in the local community.
“I go to local wholesalers and suppliers to buy items which have been rejected by shopkeepers that they normally bin. We’re helping companies reduce food waste by purchasing it off them so they make a little bit of extra money and at the same time they’re being responsible.
“The supermarket attitude to food waste is inexcusable. I need more people to get on board with me and I need more suppliers.”
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