McCain Foods and Community Shop are working together to launch a new social shop in Eastfield, North Yorkshire, which has been the base of McCain GB since 1969.

Award-winning social enterprise Community Shop redistributes extra food and home goods through its network of 11 Community Shops around the nation, offering products to neighborhood residents at steep discounts. The new Eastfield store, the first to open in North Yorkshire, will support over 750 locals when it opens its doors this summer.

The store will sell high-quality items that have been given by well-known merchants, brands, and manufacturers and are safe to use or consume. These goods could have otherwise gone to waste but have been considered “surplus.”

The store’s Community Hub, which will provide individualized personal development programs based on the requirements of each member, will use revenue generated at the store to reinvest in the neighborhood. These initiatives include everything from home budgeting and cooking groups to business classes and interview preparation.

A communal kitchen will also be located in the store, serving daily free meals to youngsters while also providing inexpensive, nourishing meals. Anyone who lives in the area receives welfare assistance, and is driven to make a positive difference in their life is welcome to join Community Shop Eastfield on a free membership basis.

Over 28,000 households were helped by Community Shop’s existing network of stores in just one year. 92% of members reported an improvement in their quality of life since joining, and 96% reported a stronger sense of community.

“We’re delighted to be partnering with McCain to open a new Community Shop in Eastfield and are looking forward to connecting and working closely with our new members in the summer. With the ongoing cost of living crisis, the deeply discounted food that is available in our stores is a lifeline for so many people. This is supported by the life-changing development programs through our Community Hub, which helps people focus on becoming the best version of themselves,” Gary Stott, Executive Chairman at Community Shop, commented.

Jillian Moffatt, Regional President GB&I at McCain, added that his company is proud to be partnering with Community Shop to bring a new store to Eastfield, a place that McCain GB has called home for over 50 years.

“Given the impact of their current stores, we know that Community Shop Eastfield will provide an invaluable service to the local community and we look forward to supporting it for years to come,” he summed up.