Name

Company Shop

Legal name

Company Shop Limited

Website

https://companyshop.co.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Company Shop is a UK membership-based surplus supermarket operating 13 Company Shop stores and 16 Community Shop social supermarkets, purchasing overstocked, discontinued, and surplus goods from manufacturers and retailers and reselling them to members at up to 50% off. The business operates as part of the Biffa waste management group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Surplus Grocery Retail

NAICS

Supermarkets and Other Grocery Retailers (except Convenience Retailers) (44511), Grocery and Convenience Retailers (4451)

SIC

Retail-Grocery Stores (5411), Retail-Food Stores (5400)

akta.pro primary industry

Value-Oriented Traditional Supermarkets (Non-Club) (CRAHAAAF)

Keywords

• Surplus grocery retail
• Membership-based supermarket
• Discounted surplus food
• Social supermarket
• Food waste redistribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Barnsley

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Retail Sales of Surplus Products: Company Shop generates revenue by purchasing surplus stock (overproduction, packaging changes, discontinued lines, seasonal products, excess stocks, missed/delayed deliveries, downgraded products) from manufacturers and retailers at discounted prices, then selling these products to members at reduced prices (up to 50% savings). The company operates on a membership model where membership is free for qualifying individuals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Company Shop operates a network of 13 UK membership-based surplus supermarkets that purchase surplus food and household products (overproduction, packaging changes, discontinued lines, seasonal items, excess stock, missed/delayed deliveries, downgraded products) from manufacturers and retailers at discounted prices and resell them to qualifying members at savings of up to 50% off mainstream supermarket prices. Membership is free and open to qualifying individuals aged 16 and over, with members able to nominate up to two additional people. The company also runs Community Shop, a not-for-profit social supermarket chain of 16 UK stores providing discounted food and personal development programmes to means-tested benefit recipients.

Product overview

Company Shop operates as a membership-based surplus supermarket network offering two distinct retail formats: Company Shop (13 UK stores) provides discounted surplus food and household products at up to 50% savings for qualifying members, while Community Shop (16 UK stores) serves as a not-for-profit social supermarket offering affordable groceries and community support programmes for those receiving means-tested benefits. Both operate as physical retail stores without online shopping or delivery services, differentiated solely by membership eligibility criteria.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Company Shop Membership-Based Surplus Supermarket A network of 13 UK membership-based physical retail stores that purchase surplus food and household products (overproduction, packaging changes, discontinued lines, seasonal items, excess stock, missed/delayed deliveries, downgraded products) from manufacturers and retailers at discount and resell them to qualifying members aged 16 and over at savings of up to 50% off mainstream supermarket prices.
• Community Shop Social Supermarket A not-for-profit social supermarket chain operated through Community Shop C.I.C., with 16 UK membership-based stores providing deeply discounted food and groceries alongside personal development programmes to members who live locally to a Community Shop store and receive a means-tested benefit.

Quantifiable outcome

• Members save up to 50% on their grocery bills compared to mainstream supermarket prices
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Big Brands and ManufacturerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany Shop has partnerships with big brands and manufacturers to purchase surplus stock. The company works with manufacturers to purchase excess stocks, missed or delayed deliveries, and products with packaging changes at discounts, passing the savings on to members.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Too Good To Go: Surplus food marketplace connecting consumers with surplus food from restaurants, bakeries, and retailers via a mobile app. Direct comparable to Company Shop's surplus redistribution mission, though operating through a digital marketplace model rather than physical retail.
• Approved Food: UK online retailer specializing in surplus, short-dated, and discontinued food and household products at discounted prices. Closest direct competitor in the surplus retail model, though operates online-only versus Company Shop's physical store network.

Emerging players

• Olio: UK-based food sharing app that redistributes surplus food from households and businesses. Comparable in mission (surplus reduction) but operates as a peer-to-peer platform rather than a retail supermarket, addressing a different customer experience.
• The Bread and Butter Thing: UK social enterprise providing low-cost groceries via community hubs, serving food-insecure households. Comparable in social mission to Company Shop's Community Shop subsidiary but operates through mobile distribution hubs rather than fixed stores.

Broad incumbents

• Aldi (UK): Leading UK hard discounter offering consistently low prices on a curated grocery assortment. Comparable as a value-oriented grocery competitor but operates a different model (private label, full grocery range) rather than surplus-based sourcing.
• Lidl (UK): Major UK hard discounter with aggressive expansion plans and a value-focused proposition. Competes for the same price-sensitive customer but through conventional grocery supply chains rather than surplus redistribution.
• Farmfoods: UK frozen and value grocery chain operating physical stores focused on price-sensitive shoppers. Comparable customer base to Company Shop's value-seeking members, though focused on frozen food rather than surplus ambient goods.
• Iceland (UK): UK frozen food specialist retailer with strong value positioning and physical store presence. Comparable as a UK discount grocery chain, though Iceland focuses on frozen categories while Company Shop focuses on surplus across categories.

Others

• Bestway Wholesale: UK's largest independent food and drink wholesaler supplying independent retailers. Adjacent peer as a wholesale buyer and distributor of surplus and short-dated grocery stock that competes with Company Shop at the supplier level.
• FareShare: UK charity redistributing surplus food to charities and community groups. Comparable in mission (surplus food redistribution) but operates as a charity-to-charity distributor rather than direct-to-consumer retail.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/companyshopltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/companyshop_1
• TikToktiktok.com/@company.shop

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Company Shop