Community Grocery

What Community Grocery does

Community Grocery is a UK-registered charitable initiative founded in 2020 by The Message Trust (a company limited by guarantee and registered charity no. 1081467) as a bridge between food banks and conventional supermarkets. The organization operates a network of more than 35 physical storefronts across England and Wales, each run in partnership with a named local church (e.g., Kings Church Blackpool, Hillsong Newcastle, St Barnabas North London, IKON Church Sheffield) that supplies space, volunteers, and community trust. Members pay a £1 annual fee and shop from a tiered point-based catalogue at £5, £7.50, £10, or £12.50 per visit, accessing surplus and short-dated food donated by supermarkets and suppliers; membership is valid across every location and visits are permitted multiple times per week.

The core product is the discounted food shop, supplemented by wrap-around services including a "What's Cooking" budget cooking course, a Money Course, Life Skills training, one-on-one counseling, and Alpha faith-exploration classes, plus a Pay It Forward donor scheme funding emergency gift cards for those unable to pay. Inventory is sourced almost entirely from corporate food donations, logistics are run by a volunteer fleet, and there is no e-commerce or online ordering channel — all transactions occur in person. Technology is limited to a WordPress CMS with Mapbox-based store mapping, Cloudflare, Google Analytics, Wordfence security, and YouTube embeds; no proprietary software, app, or AI/ML capability is disclosed.

Revenue is generated from a mix of low-friction food sales (transaction fees), £1 annual membership subscriptions (subscription recurring), individual donations and Pay It Forward contributions (donation philanthropy), corporate food donations (donation philanthropy, in-kind), and corporate volunteering days (professional services). The organization is non-profit and does not disclose financial figures; "Community Grocery®" is a registered trademark of The Message Trust. Customers are individuals and families in financial hardship across the UK, with no eligibility proof required, and the business has served over 10,000 people cumulatively since launch.

Name

Community Grocery

Legal name

The Message Trust

Website

https://communitygrocery.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Community Grocery is a UK nonprofit, founded in 2020 by The Message Trust, operating 35+ physical storefronts in partnership with local churches to sell surplus donated groceries at £5-£12.50 per shop to cost-of-living-affected members across England and Wales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Food Services

NAICS

Supermarkets and Other Grocery Retailers (except Convenience Retailers) (44511)

SIC

Retail-Grocery Stores (5411)

akta.pro primary industry

Community-Owned / Nonprofit Grocery Stores (CRAHALAB)

Keywords

• Affordable food shops
• Surplus food redistribution
• Food poverty charity
• Community grocery network
• Discounted grocery membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices35 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Food Sales: Members pay for food shops at significantly discounted rates compared to supermarkets. Shop sizes range from £5 to £12.50, providing substantial savings versus retail prices.
2. Membership Fees: £1 annual membership fee required to join and access Community Grocery stores. This is a minimal recurring revenue stream that also helps cover operational costs.
3. Individual Donations: Individuals can donate money through the website, including pay-it-forward schemes that fund free shops for those unable to afford them.
4. Corporate Food Donations: Supermarkets, suppliers, and local businesses donate food, toiletries, and non-food items. These donations are redistributed to members.
5. Corporate Volunteering: Companies can send staff for corporate volunteer days at Community Groceries, providing team engagement while supporting the charity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Community Grocery operates a network of physical food shops across 35+ UK locations where members pay a £1 annual fee and shop for groceries using a tiered point-based system (£5 for 12 items, £7.50 for 18 items, £10 for 24 items, £12.50 for 30 items) at prices significantly below retail. The shops are stocked with surplus and donated fresh, frozen, chilled, bakery, shelf and non-food items collected from supermarkets and suppliers. Members also access free wrap-around support courses covering cooking, money management, life skills, one-on-one counseling, and faith exploration.

Product overview

Community Grocery operates a network of affordable food shops across the UK, offering members access to discounted groceries through a point-based system (£5-£12.50 per shop). The core offering consists of food shops combined with wrap-around support services including cooking courses, money management courses, life skills training, one-on-one counseling, and faith exploration courses. Members pay a £1 annual fee for access to all locations and multiple weekly shops. Additional services include a Pay It Forward emergency support scheme and corporate volunteering programmes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Grocery Food Shops Tiered point-based discounted food shops (£5/£7.50/£10/£12.50 for 12/18/24/30 items respectively) stocked with surplus and donated fresh, frozen, chilled, bakery, shelf and non-food items from supermarkets and suppliers, available to members at 35+ UK locations.
• Annual Membership Annual membership programme priced at £1 per year (waivable for those in need) granting access to all Community Grocery locations across the UK and enabling multiple discounted shops per week.
• Support Courses Free wrap-around courses for members covering What's Cooking (budget cooking), Money Course (financial management), Life Skills, One-on-One Support, and Alpha (faith exploration).
• Pay It Forward Scheme Donor-funded emergency support scheme that provides members who cannot afford their weekly shop with gift cards accompanied by personal encouragement messages.
• Corporate Volunteering Days Structured corporate team engagement programme where businesses send staff to volunteer at Community Grocery stores, providing team building while supporting charitable operations.
• Food Donations Programme Programme accepting food, toiletries and non-food item donations from supermarkets, suppliers and individuals, with a fleet of vans used to collect donations for redistribution through Community Grocery stores.

Quantifiable outcome

• Shops start from just £5 for 12 items (retail value approximately £30)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

39 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Message TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Message Trust is the parent organization and registered charity (no. 1081467) that founded and operates Community Grocery. Based at Harper Road, Sharston, Manchester. The Message Trust also runs the Message Enterprise Centre providing employment and training opportunities.
• Kings Church BlackpoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church running Blackpool Community Grocery. Provides physical space, volunteers, and community connections for the store located at Bispham Road, Blackpool.
• Kings Church BoltoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church running The Mill Community Grocery in Bolton. Located at The Mill, Bury New Road, Bolton.
• Life Church (Burnley)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church running two Community Groceries in Burnley. Also supported by Burnley Together.
• Swan Bank MethodistcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church running Burslem Community Grocery in Stoke-On-Trent. Located at 5 Swan Square, Burslem.
• Hope Church CrewecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church running Crewe Community Grocery. Located at 46 Myrtle St, Crewe.
• Darlington Baptist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church running Darlington Community Grocery. Located at Corporation Road, Darlington.
• Reach DerbycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization running Derby - Reach Community Grocery. Located at Bridge House, Riverside Court, Derby.
• Harpurhey Community ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church running Harpurhey Community Grocery. Located at Carisbrook Street, Harpurhey, Manchester.
• Oxford Road Baptist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church running Hartlepool Community Grocery. Located at Caledonian Road, Hartlepool.
• Hexham Community ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church running Hexham Community Grocery. Located at 1 Wanless Lane, Hexham.
• City Gates ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church running Ilford Community Grocery. Supported by Redbridge Council. Located at 25-29 Clements Road, Ilford.
• Illuminate Hope CICcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization running Kirkby-In-Ashfield Community Grocery. Located at 48 Lowmoor Road, Nottingham.
• North Church (Leeds)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church running Leeds Community Grocery. Located at 98 Kirkstall Rd, Leeds.
• New Covenant Church ManchestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church running Levenshulme Community Grocery. Located at 1 Matthews Lane, Manchester.
• Alive Church Lincoln and Acts TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organizations running Lincoln Community Grocery at new location in Beaumont Manor, Lincoln city centre.
• Hillsong LiverpoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church running Liverpool Community Grocery. Located at 42 Devon Street, Liverpool.
• Open Heaven ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church running Loughborough Community Grocery. Located at Spectrum Centre, Loughborough.
• St Barnabas Church (Middlesbrough)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church running Middlesbrough Community Grocery. Located at 1A St Barnabas Road, Middlesbrough.
• Emmanuel Baptist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church running Netherton Community Grocery. Located at Fleetwoods Lane, Netherton, Bootle.
• Kingdom Life Church (Newcastle)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church solely running Kingdom Life Community Grocery in Newcastle. Located at Heaton Road.
• Hillsong NewcastlecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church running Newcastle West Community Grocery. Located at Westgate Hall, Corporation Street.
• St Barnabas North LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church running North Finchley Community Grocery. Located at 913 High Road, London.
• Tees Valley Community ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church running Ragworth Community Grocery. Located at The Shack, Stockton-on-Tees.
• Redcar Baptist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church running Redcar Community Grocery. Located at Park Avenue, Redcar.
• TVC ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church running South Bank Community Grocery in Middlesbrough. Located at 73 Normanby Road.
• St Thomas SwanseacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church for Swansea Community Grocery, which is temporarily closed.
• Lighthouse Church (Telford)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church running Telford Community Grocery. Located at Holyhead Road, Ketley, Telford.
• LifeChurch WarringtoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church running Warrington Community Grocery. Located at Cotswold Road, Orford, Warrington.
• The Grove Community ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church running West Ealing Community Grocery. Located at Gurnell Grove, London.
• Way Church (Wigan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church running The Edge Community Grocery in Wigan. Located at Riveredge, Wigan.
• Welcome Church (Woking)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church running Woking Community Grocery. Located at 9-11 Church Street West, Woking.
• IKON Church (Sheffield)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church for Woodseats Community Grocery opening September 2026. Located at Tadcaster Way, Sheffield.
• William Temple Parish ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church running Wythenshawe Community Grocery. Located at Robinswood Road, Manchester.
• Audacious Church (Manchester)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner church running Audacious Manchester Community Grocery. Located at Trinity Way, Manchester.
• Life Church Bedworth (Partner Store)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner store called 'The Storehouse' - part of the Community Grocery network but run solely by Life Church Bedworth.
• Destiny Church Glasgow (Partner Store)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner store called 'Destiny Community Grocery' - part of the Community Grocery network but run solely by Destiny Church.
• Food BanksminorOthersCommunity Grocery acts as a bridge between food banks and supermarkets, referring individuals who need more intensive support to food banks, and accepting referrals from food banks for those who can benefit from ongoing affordable shopping.
• Supermarkets and Food SupplierscoreOthersSupermarkets, suppliers, and local businesses donate food, toiletries, and non-food items. The organization arranges collection using their fleet of vans.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Bread and Butter Thing: UK charity running a network of low-cost food hubs that redistribute surplus stock to members at a fraction of retail price. Most directly comparable to Community Grocery's membership-based, point-priced, surplus-funded model.
• Your Local Pantry: Network of community-owned 'pantry' shops offering subsidized groceries and wrap-around support to members on a recurring basis. Operates a similar model of affordable, dignity-based grocery access combined with community support.

Broad incumbents

• FareShare UK: UK's largest food redistribution charity, supplying surplus food to a national network of frontline charities. Comparable as a surplus-redistribution operation, but at wholesale/charity scale rather than direct-to-member retail.
• The Trussell Trust: Operates the largest UK network of food banks providing emergency food parcels. Comparable in addressing UK food insecurity but operates a free, means-tested parcel model rather than Community Grocery's paid, choice-based shop model.

Emerging players

• Too Good To Go: Marketplace app connecting consumers with surplus food from restaurants and retailers to reduce waste. Comparable in addressing food waste via surplus, but commercial and consumer-facing rather than charity-led.
• Olio: App-based platform for sharing surplus food and household items between neighbors. Comparable in the food waste and community-sharing domain, but operates peer-to-peer digitally rather than through physical retail locations.
• City Harvest London: London-based food surplus redistribution charity collecting surplus from producers and redistributing to community organizations. Comparable in mission and food waste angle but operates a redistribution/logistics model rather than a retail one.

Others

• Feeding Britain: UK charity coalition working to reduce food poverty through local partnerships, holiday provision, and affordable food access initiatives. Comparable in addressing UK food poverty and in partnering with local actors, but primarily as a coordinating/advocacy body rather than a retail operator.
• The Message Trust: Parent charity and company limited by guarantee that founded and operates Community Grocery. While not an external peer, it is the controlling entity and ecosystem partner, sharing the church-based community engagement model and volunteer pipeline.
• Plan Zheroes: UK volunteer-led food surplus redistribution charity connecting businesses with surplus food to local community groups. Comparable in the food waste and charitable redistribution domain, but without a paid retail layer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/communitygrocery
• Instagraminstagram.com/communitygrocery

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Community Grocery