By Katherine Turner
A social enterprise which intercepts food waste is looking to expand – and is eyeing new premises in Pudsey.
Surplus to Purpose is a social enterprise that intercepts food that is no longer required and redistributes the food via their social supermarket to the public after quality checks are completed.
Currently based at Torre Road their success means they are looking to have three premises, including one in Pudsey.
Adam Smith, co-founder and CEO of Surplus to Purpose said: “We plan to become the UK’s largest social enterprise retailer.
“Pudsey seems like the perfect location. I opened the UK’s first social supermarket in Pudsey with a different project in 2016.
“Since then we have grown nationally and we would love to come back to where it all started, with an improved model.”
With the cost of living increasing, people are increasingly turning to food banks and social supermarkets.
“People accessing social supermarkets can be vulnerable. FSA data describes them as having a predominantly lower income (less than £19,000 pa), long-term unemployed or people who have never worked before, or parents of children under 16 years.
This is why Adam feels Surplus to Purpose can play a crucial role in supporting those in need and reducing food waste: “We are an innovative company, tackling the critical issue of food waste.
“We transform food destined for disposal into valuable resources for communities, events and schools across the UK. Through these efforts we are working to build a future where surplus food feeds people and not bins.”
Surplus to Purpose currently reaches around 2,000 people per week.
Mr Smith was the founder of the Real Junk Food Project, which had a cafe in Armley called Armley Junction and aimed to reduce food waste.
He opened the UK’s first food waste supermarket on the Grangefield Industrial Estate back in 2016.
More information can be found here.
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