A new surplus stock supermarket has opened with huge savings for shoppers.
Already it's proving a hit with bargain hunters who have been flocking to the new Company Shop in Long Eaton, with one mum-of-two saying she did a weekly shop for just £25.
Mum-of-two Elycia Akli, from Kirkby-in-Ashfield, said: "We went to the Company Shop for the first time last week and it really is fantastic. We managed to do a week's shopping for £25 and get the kids treats too.
"The food is from all stores - from M&S and Waitrose to Tesco and Aldi. I managed to get a whole chicken for £1.75, veg for 20p and did a full roast for four of us for less than a fiver."
Mrs Akli and her husband both work in social care - one of the new temporary additions to the membership list of people who can use the Company Shop.
She said: "Even with us both working it can sometimes be a struggle and we recently switched from Asda to Aldi to save money on our food shop.
"I cannot begin to explain how much this has helped us. As care workers we can sometimes get forgotten and we are both over the moon the Company Shop has extended its membership to us."
The Company Shop has taken over the former Family Bargains unit in Chapel Street. Surplus big brand food, drink, and household goods are on sale at discounted prices, or as they describe it "shopping with sprinkles on top."
Membership is open to NHS employees (including volunteers, students, GP practices and dentists) and those who work for the police, fire service, prison service, private hospitals and the British Army, plus anyone in receipt of a pension from any of these.
Anyone in the food and drink supply chain, such as food manufacturers, can also shop there.
During the Covid-19 pandemic temporary membership has been granted to other sectors helping to combat the crisis including teachers, care home workers, and hospice staff.
The organisation is the largest commercial redistributor of surplus food and household products in the UK. The website says: "Our stores are packed with high quality branded food and household products, but our prices are amazing. Plus, our stock is constantly changing, so there’s a surprise every time you shop."
Regional manager Dave Buttress said the shop provides high-quality, low cost food and products "to help stretch hard-working family budgets."
He said: "The store has helped to boost employment in the local area with the creation of 45 new jobs for local people, and is open to people working in the NHS, emergency services and fast moving consumer goods supply chain.
"In keeping with our commitment to the area, we wanted to ensure we are doing all we can to support the wider local community during such an unprecedented time, so have also temporarily extended membership during the pandemic to a number of other key sectors. We look forward to safely welcoming members to the store in the weeks and months to come.”
The shop has had to open with social-distancing measures in place - including a limit on how many customers are allowed in at a time.
To apply for membership go to companyshopgroup.co.uk
