A BARNSLEY-BASED business which redistributes surplus food will have sold more than 2.1 million units of plain-packaged products to customers by the end of this month, new figures show.

Company Shop, based at Wentworth Industrial Estate in Tankersley, stops good food and household products going to waste.

It was founded by John Marren more than 40 years ago and is the UK’s largest redistributor of surplus stock.

The figures show an increasing willingness among customers to choose ‘unpretty’ products for the right reasons.

Company Shop accepts surplus stock across the chilled, ambient and frozen sections, repackages it, and sells it on to members at a discounted price.

It operates five member-only superstores around the UK, including in Tankersley, with a sixth opening near Sunderland next month, and handles more than 50,000,000 items every year.

Managing director Jane Marren, said: “We are delighted at these sales figures, which show consumers are more than willing to purchase ‘unpretty’ products that would otherwise have gone to waste.

“Our members love it because they understand why it’s there, they get a great price and they are helping to prevent good products from going to waste.

“This example shows how we can work with suppliers, manufacturers and brands to ensure that food fit for human consumption reaches people’s plates.

“By redistributing surplus, we provide commercial and social returns for our partners, great products at great prices for our members, and a real environmental solution that helps to tackle the UK’s food waste challenge.”