A new vendor has opened at Spark York – that aims to ‘feed bellies, not bins’.
Described as an ‘innovative social enterprise’, Surplus To Purpose’s mission is to tackle the issue of food waste by rescuing surplus food from businesses and redistributing it.
The retail unit will offer good-quality food that would otherwise have been destined for landfill, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, cupboard staples, sweet treats, and fully stocked drinks range.
The products are available at affordable prices – such as eight oranges for 50p or a plastic tub of dried black beans for 35p.
According to their website, Surplus for Purpose intercept and repurpose 1,000 tons of surplus food annually – the equivalent of 2.3 million meals.
As well as the new shop in York, the business also has a warehouse and store in Leeds, and an online supermarket which includes fresh produce, dairy, meat, and pantry items.
Alongside their mission to reduce food waste and battle food insecurity, the organisation also supplies food boxes, supports schools with nutritionally balanced meals, and offers sustainable catering for events – in partnership with companies like Thomas Franks.
Surplus to Purpose is open to everyone from Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 4pm at Spark York, Piccadilly.
Find out more about SToP and the work they do at their website here.