Indoor ski slope becomes cold storage facility for Company Shop

• Company Shop has been redistributing surplus stock from foodservice and hospitality sectors during the crisis

• The food will be sold in one of two superstores that are currently only open to key workers

One of the UK’s largest distributors of surplus stock, Company Shop, is storing thousands of products at an indoor ski slope facility as the country’s chilled storage nears capacity.

Chill Factore, the UK’s longest indoor real snow ski slope, in Manchester, has opened its doors to the social enterprise, offering a temperature-controlled environment to store goods during the lockdown period.

Company Shop has been supporting many businesses for the first time during the coronavirus crisis, buying surplus stock from foodservice and hospitality sectors to save it from going to waste before redistributing it to members through its stores.

This has resulted in the need for additional cold storage.

The food being stored on the ski slope will be sold in one of two superstores that are currently only open to key workers including NHS and emergency service staff.

“Central to our offer at Company Shop Group is our ability to turn problems into potential,” said Company Shop Group MD Jane Marren. “Chill Factore’s generous donation of storage space at its site is essential for ensuring that we can continue to support the industry to unlock the value in its surplus, and enables us to continue to keep our shelves stocked for the key workers and vulnerable families who rely on our support.”

The donation of chilled storage space has been welcomed by Cold Chain Federation CEO Shane Brennan. “Company Shop is a truly innovative company with a can-do attitude in everything they do,” he said.

“They have led the way in finding a sustainable solution to repurposing good food that would otherwise go to waste and now they have come up with a great way to put this facility to use. Of course we hope that Chill Factore can get back to its usual business as soon as possible but in the meantime their generous donation of space is going to make a real difference.”