Member Article

Mayor takes aim at food poverty with funding for three social supermarkets

Three new ‘social supermarkets’ are to be set up in Haringey, Enfield and Lambeth in an attempt to cut down on food poverty in the capital.

The new supermarkets will be set up from a £300,000 share of the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson’s High Street Fund which aims to improve the capital’s high streets.

Social supermarkets aim to cut food waste and provide affordable food to low income families by stocking in-date food that would normally be thrown away by larger retailers, usually due to overproduction or incorrect weight.

Haringey will establish a social supermarket in Northumberland Park, which is the most deprived ward in London. In Enfield the new social supermarket will share a library site in Upper Edmonton, while in Lambeth a new store will be established in Clapham Park to help people in Brixton, Streatham and Clapham.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has cited a visit to Lambeth Community Shop, touted as London’s first social supermarket, as inspiration behind the funding.

He said: “When I visited the Lambeth Community Shop last year, I was struck by the range of training and skills services, making it a hugely positive resource.

“This funding will help boroughs kick start similar ‘social supermarket’ ventures that can really help local people on tight budgets. ‎

“I want to see more innovative schemes on our high streets that tackle food waste, help communities and offer access to a variety of good standard cheaper food.”

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