Shop that’s a cross between a food bank and supermarket opens first Nottinghamshire branch

A shop aimed at helping people in need has celebrated the opening of its first Nottinghamshire branch. Community Grocery – a cross between a food bank and a supermarket – opened their new branch on Low Moor Road in Kirkby-in-Ashfield on Wednesday, March 12.

Members can purchase groceries and other essential items at a discounted price, with any 12 items costing £5 in total only. If 18 products are purchased it costs £7.50. Larger quantities of products can be purchased, too.

It costs £5 for a yearly membership per household, and anyone can sign up without having to show proof of circumstances. Shoppers have access to Community Grocery once a day every day the shop is open.

“We are a bridge between a food bank and a supermarket,” said Kirsty Bell, director of the charity Illuminate Hope. Together with her team at the charity, she has introduced this shop into the community to further their work of sharing hope in tough situations.

“The demand has been huge. We have signed up about 400 people in the first three days of being open”, Kirsty said. “This shows the local community really needed this help.

“People have been chuffed and thanked us a lot. The response has been incredible”.

Supported by charities FairShare and The Message Trust, there are no limits to how many people can sign up and come to the shop. “We will keep going until we can’t stock the shelves anymore, which we hope will never happen”, Kirsty said.

Currently, one member of staff is employed full-time, with a team of volunteers offering a helping hand.

Kirsty said that people around Nottinghamshire have asked for more Community Grocery shops to be opened in the county. “We hope to make this a goal in the future”, she said.

Most of the food sold at the shop is donated, with the charity also buying food in bulk from manufacturers and distributors.