SHOPPERS at Company Shop Dudley have saved more than £3million in the store’s first year of opening.

The shop on Birmingham New Road sells food and household items from leading supermarkets and brands for around half their retail price after they have been deemed surplus.

This means the products are in-date and perfectly good, but have minor issues like wonky labelling or seasonal packaging.

With the cost-of-living crisis kicking in, the store supports thousands of families on means tested benefits, as well as key workers, by giving them the opportunity to shop well for less.

By redistributing surplus products, Company Shop Dudley, has also prevented almost 1,500 tonnes of surplus from being needlessly thrown away during the past year.

Company Shop Dudley is part of a network of 15 stores across England and Scotland and these figures were released as part of the group’s annual Sustainability Report which showed that it handled 98m surplus products and prevented over 34,000 tonnes of food and drink from going to waste – the equivalent of more than 82m meals.

Kevin Duffy, store manager, said: “The increasing cost-of-living is impacting thousands of families in Dudley and we’re proud to be helping them to continue to eat well and save a significant amount on their weekly shopping bill.

“To have helped our members save over £3m on their shopping is a phenomenal achievement, even more so when you consider that all the great products they purchased may have ended up in the bin.

"Our members are also helping to save the planet as well, with almost 1,500 tonnes of food and drink stopped from waste.”

Company Shop is a member-only supermarket and is open to anyone in receipt of means-tested benefits, as well as those working in the NHS, social care, emergency services, FMCG supply chain, British Armed Forces, prison services and charities (including volunteers).

Those eligible can apply for free lifetime membership by visiting: www.companyshop.co.uk/membership.