Latest news with #CompanyShop
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
I visited a little-known supermarket where you can buy McDonald's and M&S surplus stock but it costs HALF the price
I got £30 worth of groceries for under £10 - see all the pictures of items you can buy from my visit to the shop CHECK IT OUT I visited a little-known supermarket where you can buy McDonald's and M&S surplus stock but it costs HALF the price Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EVERYONE is feeling the pinch at the supermarket checkout - but there's one retailer that is helping shoppers with bargain prices. I got nearly £30 worth of food for just £10 when I visited The Company Shop branch in Southampton. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 9 The Sun's Laura McGuire visited Southampton's Company Shop to see how much she could save on her grocery shop 9 The till was loaded with loads of pricey branded goods - including McCains oven chips and a posh M&S pork loin - but the total came in at under a £10 9 Company Shop is packed with loads of popular treats like Twix bars - but they are packaged differently and often sold in bulk Credit: Solent 9 Company Shop stocks well known brands customers are familiar with such as Heniz Beanz Credit: Solent The retailer, which has 13 branches around the UK, has gone viral on TikTok for selling food from big name brands like Tesco, M&S, Asda and even McDonald's at mega cheap prices. The retailer buys up surplus stock - from well-known suppliers - that would otherwise be going to waste and sell it back to shoppers at a low price. Sometimes, products may also be sold in damaged packaging or broken slightly but the goods are completely safe to eat. Customers need to register for a free membership card to get inside the store and spend. To qualify, you need to be claiming means tested benefits - such as Pension Credit - or work in sectors such as the NHS or fire brigade. Locations include shops in Grimsby, Bradford, St Helens and Corby. The first thing I saw as I headed into the shop was a row of shelves stocking popular seasoning kits and sauces made by Tesco and Sainsbury's. These are a staple in my house, so you can imagine my joy when I spotted a Tesco Thai Style Red Curry Rice Bake Flavour Kit for 95p. These typically cost £1.85, so that is a saving of 90p. I made a weeks worth of sandwiches for just 30p - my hack means I have my lunch sorted whenever I need it, people think it's revolting but it saves me money I was impressed with all the meat on offer, even though I'm a veggie, I know how expensive adding protein to your shopping bill can be and I spotted loads of offers. A giant 2.27kg smoked catering bacon was scanning for £9, when I have seen it priced for £16 elsewhere. A litre of Yeo Valley milk normally costs over £2 but at Company shop it cost just 80p. The fruit and veg aisle was also stacked with fresh produce and M&S bread was available to buy for just 40p. What I bought when I visited The Company Shop HERE's what I bought versus how much they would've cost at my local supermarket: McCain's Home Chips Straight £2 instead of £4.30 Clementine 600g - £0.50 instead of £1.34 Mini Watermelon - £0.50 instead of £2.30 Gü Cookies N Cream Dessert - £1.75 instead of £3.75 M&S Pepper Crust Pork - £2.75 instead of £5 M&S Petit Pois and Carrots - £0.75 instead of £3.50 M&S New Potatoes Vegetables - £0.35 instead of £3.20 Yorkie Original 3x46 - £0.75 instead of £2.25 Custard Creams 600g - £0.50 instead of 65p Total saving: £16.44 TASTY TREATS No grocery shop is complete without adding a few sweet treats to your basket, so I was very eager to see what Company Shop had to offer. My eyes were immediately drawn to the massive 600g bags of orange flavoured Kit Kat's scanning for just £2. The Nestle chocolate is not in the typical red packaging you expect, but instead clear plastic bags. COMPANY SHOP LOCATIONS Bradford Corby Darlington Dudley Grimsby Leicester Long Eaton Middleton Renfrew Southampton Washington Wentworth (Barnsley) That's because a few in the package may be broken, but the snack is still completely safe to eat. You can't deny the saving too. Typically, a 160g multipack of the bars cost £2.20. But here, you get an extra 440g of food for 20p less. MCDONALD'S FREEZER FOOD Heading over the freezer aisle, I was so impressed to see McCains Home Cut chips scanning for just £2. These were once a favourite of mine, but the price has rocketed to over £4 at my local supermarket so I have steered clear of the crispy delight for a while. But there was one thing on my mind as I approached the frozen section of the store. Prior to my visit to Company Shop I heard rumours stores sold huge bags of frozen McDonald's food, like chips, nuggets and even the limited edition McRib. So I knew I needed to check for myself and see if it was true. To my surprise, I found a massive 1kg bag of Garlic Cheese bites for just £5. Sparks food at a budget price By Laura McGuire JANE WATTS, 67, is a retired NHS worker who has been shopping at the branch since it opened back in 2021. She tells The Sun she likes to visit the store about two or three times a week and finds it a great place to nab cheap washing powder and soap. One of her favourite shops is M&S and she finds the store is a great place to find Sparks food at a budget price. It is not only Jane who has been making a saving, over 13,000 people in the area have a membership with Company Shop. Better yet, the stores across the promises to sell food for at least 50% off what you would pay in store. The delicious side has not been on Maccie's menu for months so it was a surprise to see. McDonald's began its relationship with The Company Shop during the pandemic and gives food that would be going to waste to the retailer. In the past, customers have even spotted rare limited edition menu items in the stores long after it had been pulled from the fast food chain. That includes the famous McRib patties which were being sold for £2.50 per 1kg. If you live nearby a Company Shop and you're eligible to join, it seems like a no-brainer. But the only thing I worried about was whether I'd have enough freezer and cupboard space to stash items on a regular basis. Most of the produce is sold in bulk - but you could split it with a friend if you were worried about not having enough storage. The Sun has been told there are no current plans to open more Company Shops in the coming months. But the group also runs a sister organisation known as Community Shop, which run a further 14 locations across the UK. These stores are exclusively for people claiming means tested benefits and offers the chance to buy a grocery shop for a third of the price. Unlike, the Company Shop it also offers other services such as training and personal development and cafe serving discounted meals for the community. 9 A big bag of Kit Kat orange chocolate, some of the pieces may be broken but the treat tastes the same Credit: Solent 9 Yeo Valley milk scanning for 80p, a product that costs £1.95 at Waitrose Credit: Solent 9 Expect to see fancy meats - like this Morrisons slow cooked pork belly - in the chilled aisle. Credit: Solent 9 McDonald's gives food that would otherwise be going to waste to Company Shop, giving customers a chance to find frozen goodies from the Golden Arches Credit: Solent 9 Plenty of posh M&S grub to be found in the frozen aisle, including these Yorkshire Puddings for half off Credit: Solent
The Sun
7 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
I visited a little-known supermarket where you can buy McDonald's and M&S surplus stock but it costs HALF the price
EVERYONE is feeling the pinch at the supermarket checkout - but there's one retailer that is helping shoppers with bargain prices. I got nearly £30 worth of food for just £10 when I visited The Company Shop branch in Southampton. 9 9 9 9 The retailer, which has 13 branches around the UK, has gone viral on TikTok for selling food from big name brands like Tesco, M&S, Asda and even McDonald's at mega cheap prices. The retailer buys up surplus stock - from well-known suppliers - that would otherwise be going to waste and sell it back to shoppers at a low price. Sometimes, products may also be sold in damaged packaging or broken slightly but the goods are completely safe to eat. Customers need to register for a free membership card to get inside the store and spend. To qualify, you need to be claiming means tested benefits - such as Pension Credit - or work in sectors such as the NHS or fire brigade. Locations include shops in Grimsby, Bradford, St Helens and Corby. The first thing I saw as I headed into the shop was a row of shelves stocking popular seasoning kits and sauces made by Tesco and Sainsbury's. These are a staple in my house, so you can imagine my joy when I spotted a Tesco Thai Style Red Curry Rice Bake Flavour Kit for 95p. These typically cost £1.85, so that is a saving of 90p. I made a weeks worth of sandwiches for just 30p - my hack means I have my lunch sorted whenever I need it, people think it's revolting but it saves me money I was impressed with all the meat on offer, even though I'm a veggie, I know how expensive adding protein to your shopping bill can be and I spotted loads of offers. A giant 2.27kg smoked catering bacon was scanning for £9, when I have seen it priced for £16 elsewhere. A litre of Yeo Valley milk normally costs over £2 but at Company shop it cost just 80p. The fruit and veg aisle was also stacked with fresh produce and M&S bread was available to buy for just 40p. TASTY TREATS No grocery shop is complete without adding a few sweet treats to your basket, so I was very eager to see what Company Shop had to offer. My eyes were immediately drawn to the massive 600g bags of orange flavoured Kit Kat's scanning for just £2. The Nestle chocolate is not in the typical red packaging you expect, but instead clear plastic bags. That's because a few in the package may be broken, but the snack is still completely safe to eat. You can't deny the saving too. Typically, a 160g multipack of the bars cost £2.20. But here, you get an extra 440g of food for 20p less. MCDONALD'S FREEZER FOOD Heading over the freezer aisle, I was so impressed to see McCains Home Cut chips scanning for just £2. These were once a favourite of mine, but the price has rocketed to over £4 at my local supermarket so I have steered clear of the crispy delight for a while. But there was one thing on my mind as I approached the frozen section of the store. Prior to my visit to Company Shop I heard rumours stores sold huge bags of frozen McDonald's food, like chips, nuggets and even the limited edition McRib. So I knew I needed to check for myself and see if it was true. To my surprise, I found a massive 1kg bag of Garlic Cheese bites for just £5. Sparks food at a budget price By Laura McGuire JANE WATTS, 67, is a retired NHS worker who has been shopping at the branch since it opened back in 2021. She tells The Sun she likes to visit the store about two or three times a week and finds it a great place to nab cheap washing powder and soap. One of her favourite shops is M&S and she finds the store is a great place to find Sparks food at a budget price. It is not only Jane who has been making a saving, over 13,000 people in the area have a membership with Company Shop. Better yet, the stores across the promises to sell food for at least 50% off what you would pay in store. The delicious side has not been on Maccie's menu for months so it was a surprise to see. McDonald's began its relationship with The Company Shop during the pandemic and gives food that would be going to waste to the retailer. In the past, customers have even spotted rare limited edition menu items in the stores long after it had been pulled from the fast food chain. That includes the famous McRib patties which were being sold for £2.50 per 1kg. If you live nearby a Company Shop and you're eligible to join, it seems like a no-brainer. But the only thing I worried about was whether I'd have enough freezer and cupboard space to stash items on a regular basis. Most of the produce is sold in bulk - but you could split it with a friend if you were worried about not having enough storage. The Sun has been told there are no current plans to open more Company Shops in the coming months. But the group also runs a sister organisation known as Community Shop, which run a further 14 locations across the UK. These stores are exclusively for people claiming means tested benefits and offers the chance to buy a grocery shop for a third of the price. Unlike, the Company Shop it also offers other services such as training and personal development and cafe serving discounted meals for the community. 9 9 9 9 9 How to save cash on your food shop Money saving experts at HSBC UK have revealed their top tips to saving cash on your food shop. 1. Set a budget Creating a budget will help to stretch your budget. Start by working out how much you spent on food over the last three months, then each month you get paid, set aside a certain amount for food. 2. Plan your meals Make a list of your main meals for the coming week, including the ingredients you need, and stick to it. Don't get drawn into offers for things that you don't need. If you already have some food leftover from the week before, try to see what you can do with that first. 3. Think about when and where you shop It's best to shop on a full stomach so you don't get tempted. Shopping less often can help you to think about what you buy and it may help you to stick to your budget. 4. Go online Shopping online is a good and easy way to manage your budget. It can also help to track expenses, whilst also preventing impulse buys.
Scottish Sun
27-04-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Discontinued McDonald's menu items ‘return' to UK as eagle-eyed shoppers scramble to fill their trolleys
The items will be sold at a reduced price LOVIN' IT Discontinued McDonald's menu items 'return' to UK as eagle-eyed shoppers scramble to fill their trolleys Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DISCONTINUED McDonald's menu items have made a highly anticipated "return" as shoppers scramble to fill their trolleys. The legendary menu favourites have landed in a British supermarket after almost a decade of diners pleading for their return. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 A shopper has shared the 'return' of a discontinued McDonalds item Credit: Instagram/newfoodspotteruk 3 In supermarket Company Shop one customer thought they spotted Mozzarella Bites, Halloumi Fries and Mayo Chicken burgers Credit: Instagram/newfoodspotteruk 3 McDonald's discontinued Halloumi Fries last year Credit: Getty What shoppers believe are Halloumi Fries, Mozzarella bites, and Mayo Chicken burgers have arrived at Company Shop. One eagle-eyed customer spotted the Maccies treats in the freezer section and immediately filled up their basket. They posted a video on TikTok with the caption: "OMG look at all the McDonalds food in the company shop today." The footage shows a series of different frozen items similar to those on the McDonalds. Piles of Halloumi fries, Mozzarella bites and a patty called Chicken Nuggets Tempura were all on display in the supermarket freezers. Thrilled shoppers were quick to take to the comment section to find out how to get their hands on the fast food goods. One keen customer asked: "Can anyone go into this shop and buy stuff?" Another commented a series of dribbling emojis. A third queried: "Can anyone go in this shop and buy stuff?" The Halloumi Fries are mouthwatering, salty, cheese sticks covered in a thick crunchy crust. McDonald's Minecraft Taste Test - Sam Walker They were cut from the menu last year, much to the dismay of customers. Mozzarella bites are similar - they're deep-fried pieces of the popular cheese covered in breadcrumbs served up with tomato sauce. Thankfully these and the Mayo Chicken remain firmly on the McDonalds menu. Those keen to get their hands on the iconic burger get a crispy coated chicken with crunchy lettuce, a soft bun and, of course, cool mayonnaise. By picking up a pack of patty's you'll be able to recreate this legendary dish at home. All you need is a pack of the Chicken Nuggets Tempura, a bun, some lettuce and sauce and you're good to go. What's more, is that the home-made burger will likely be a fraction of the price. Company Shop sells a huge range of surplus stock at shockingly low prices including products from M&S, Tesco and Waitrose. It picks up these items for a range of reasons including overproduction, mislabelling, or changes to packaging, but they're all safe to eat and taste just as good. The products sold in Company Shop stores are surplus for a variety of reasons, such as overproduction, mislabelling, or changes to packaging. However, the items are still perfectly safe and fit for use, are sold at a discounted price. However, all the food sent to the UK-wide chain is repackaged and sold unbranded - so you're not able to tell which of your favourite restaurant or supermarket it was originally destined for. You might not realise exactly what you're purchasing as you'll take it home without the label, but one savvy shopper is confident they saw the iconic McDonalds menu items.
The Sun
27-04-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Discontinued McDonald's menu items ‘return' to UK as eagle-eyed shoppers scramble to fill their trolleys
A DISCONTINUED McDonald's menu item has made a highly anticipated "return" as shoppers scramble to fill their trolleys. The legendary menu favourite has landed in a British supermarket after a year of diners pleading for their return. 3 3 3 What shoppers believe are Halloumi Fries, Mozzarella bites, and Mayo Chicken burgers have arrived at Company Shop. One eagle-eyed customer spotted the Maccies treats in the freezer section and immediately filled up their basket. They posted a video on TikTok with the caption: "OMG look at all the McDonalds food in the company shop today." The footage shows a series of different frozen items similar to those on the McDonalds. Piles of Halloumi fries, Mozzarella bites and a patty called Chicken Nuggets Tempura were all on display in the supermarket freezers. Thrilled shoppers were quick to take to the comment section to find out how to get their hands on the fast food goods. One keen customer asked: "Can anyone go into this shop and buy stuff?" Another commented a series of dribbling emojis. A third queried: "Can anyone go in this shop and buy stuff?" The Halloumi Fries are mouthwatering, salty, cheese sticks covered in a thick crunchy crust. They were cut from the menu in April last year, much to the dismay of customers. Customers shared their disappointment online when the announcement came through. One said: "I've been dreaming of the Halloumi Fries." Another wrote: "Please make Halloumi Fries permanent. Mozzarella bites however are similar and are still available - they're deep-fried pieces of the popular cheese covered in breadcrumbs served up with tomato sauce. Thankfully these and the Mayo Chicken remain firmly on the McDonalds menu. Those keen to get their hands on the iconic burger get a crispy coated chicken with crunchy lettuce, a soft bun and, of course, cool mayonnaise. By picking up a pack of patty's you'll be able to recreate this legendary dish at home. All you need is a pack of the Chicken Nuggets Tempura, a bun, some lettuce and sauce and you're good to go. What's more, is that the home-made burger will likely be a fraction of the price. Company Shop sells a huge range of surplus stock at shockingly low prices including products from M&S, Tesco and Waitrose. It picks up these items for a range of reasons including overproduction, mislabelling, or changes to packaging, but they're all safe to eat and taste just as good. The products sold in Company Shop stores are surplus for a variety of reasons, such as overproduction, mislabelling, or changes to packaging. However, the items are still perfectly safe and fit for use, are sold at a discounted price. However, all the food sent to the UK-wide chain is repackaged and sold unbranded - so you're not able to tell which of your favourite restaurant or supermarket it was originally destined for. You might not realise exactly what you're purchasing as you'll take it home without the label, but one savvy shopper is confident they saw the iconic McDonalds menu items. How to save at McDonald's You could end up being charged more for a McDonald's meal based solely on the McDonald's restaurant you choose. Research by The Sun found a Big Mac meal can be up to 30% cheaper at restaurants just two miles apart from each other. You can pick up a Big Mac and fries for just £2.99 at any time by filling in a feedback survey found on McDonald's receipts. The receipt should come with a 12-digit code which you can enter into the Food for Thought website alongside your submitted survey. You'll then receive a five-digit code which is your voucher for the £2.99 offer. There are some deals and offers you can only get if you have the My McDonald's app, so it's worth signing up to get money off your meals. The MyMcDonald's app can be downloaded on iPhone and Android phones and is quick to set up. You can also bag freebies and discounts on your birthday if you're a My McDonald's app user. The chain has recently sent out reminders to app users to fill out their birthday details - otherwise they could miss out on birthday treats.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pricer to roll out electronic shelf labels across Company Shop's UK stores
Surplus supermarket chain Company Shop is set to implement Pricer's electronic shelf labels (ESLs) across its UK store network. The advanced in-store solution aims to streamline operations, boost labour productivity and facilitate dynamic pricing strategies. Company Shop offers an extensive range of products from 800 brands, retailers and manufacturers. The company is responsible for redistributing more than 100 million items annually and plays a significant role in preventing 122,000 tons of CO₂ emissions each year. The nature of Company Shop's inventory, comprising goods with shorter shelf lives that necessitate frequent updates, has traditionally demanded substantial manual labour to maintain accurate shelf-edge product information. By integrating Pricer's ESL tech, Company Shop anticipates considerable operational efficiencies by reallocating staff hours from manual labelling to other valuable in-store activities. The collaboration with Pricer marks a significant step in Company Shop's digital transformation journey. With ESLs providing real-time pricing adjustments directly at the shelf edge, the system has already demonstrated a productivity increase of more than 5%. The enhancement not only frees up employees to concentrate on customer service but also improves pricing accuracy. Company Shop retail head Gemma Edlin stated: 'Introducing Pricer's ESLs has been a game-changer – not just for our store colleagues, who have seen labour productivity boosted and their time freed to focus on delivering customer service, but especially for our members. Our vision is to create a world where no surplus products go to waste, so with real-time and to-the-second accurate pricing via the ESLs, our members know they'll always be getting the very best price on offer, meaning more sell-through and less waste.' The ESL technology is already operational in Company Shop's St Helens and Long Eaton locations. Pricer, in partnership with Renovotec for installation services, is scheduled to complete the deployment of its ESLs across all 13 Company Shop stores by the end of March 2025. "Pricer to roll out electronic shelf labels across Company Shop's UK stores" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
