Award-winning social enterprise Community Shop, part of Company Shop Group, has expanded its network of social supermarkets, opening a new store in North Bransholme, Hull.

The new store is the 15th in its pioneering network of social supermarkets, and has opened thanks to the support of McCain Foods, the UK’s largest manufacturer of frozen potato products. Having already funded a Community Shop in Eastfield, near Scarborough, McCain Foods has strengthened its partnership with Community Shop through product donations that will support the new North Bransholme store.  

Community Shop works in partnership with manufacturers and retailers across the grocery and FMCG sectors to redistribute surplus products that are in-date and safe to consume but are surplus for reasons such as mislabelling, overproduction, or seasonal packaging. Products are sold in-store at discounted prices, and with the profits reinvested directly back into the community, Community Shop not only eases the strain on household budgets, but creates a self-sustaining alternative to short-term food aid, providing thousands of families with dignity, choice and the opportunity to build lasting resilience.

The new store in North Bransholme is made up of three distinct but interconnected spaces: Community Store, Community Hub and Community Kitchen.

Its Community Store will provide members with access to deeply discounted food and essentials, including its Plenty for 20 range which provides fruit, vegetables and bread for only 20p. Profits will be reinvested into its Community Hub, which will deliver life-changing holistic support and development, empowering people across the local community to learn new skills and build their confidence. Community Kitchen will offer a café that enables people to connect with others and will offer home-cooked meals, with kids eating for free every day.  

The store opening comes at a critical time, as food insecurity reaches record levels across the UK. According to the Trussell Trust’s Hunger in the UK 2025 report, almost one in three children under five now live in households facing hunger, and nearly a third of food bank users come from working families.

Against this backdrop, Community Shop’s model has never been more vital. Since its inception in 2013, Community Shop has supported over 104,000 families through this model, embedding resilience within communities and improving people’s circumstances for the long-term.

Gary Stott, Executive Chairman of Community Shop, commented: “For the past 12 years, Community Shop has not only provided our members with access to deeply discounted food and households products, but also provided life-changing programmes and holistic support so that our members develop their own capabilities and feel empowered to deliver a positive future for themselves. Thanks to the support of McCain Foods, we’re continuing our mission to build stronger individuals and more confident communities, and we were delighted to welcome so many people from across the North Bransholme community into their new store.”

Jillian Moffatt, Regional President GB&I at McCain, added: “It’s a privilege to support an initiative like Community Shop and we’re delighted to further strengthen our partnership through the opening of the new store in Hull.”

The new store is located within the North Bransholme Community Centre (Lothian Way, Hull, HU7 5DD) where it shares the building with the Paul Ingle Boxing Academy.