A Stockport mother has said a local social supermarket has allowed her to afford extra food and treats for her family, which has been especially handy over the festive period.
Yazz Gough, 56, uses the re:dish Good Stuff store in Reddish to reduce her weekly grocery costs while supporting two teenage children at home.
She said the savings have made a significant difference to her household budget.
Ms Gough said: “I save a fortune because I’ve got two teenage kids at home who never stop eating!”
She uses the produce available at the store to prepare home-cooked meals for her family.
Ms Gough said she regularly buys fresh fruit and vegetables to make dishes such as apple strudels and shepherd’s pie.
She said: “I buy a lot of the fresh fruit and vegetables to make things like apple strudels, chips or shepherd’s pie, so it has cut the cost of my midweek shop.”
Re:dish Good Stuff operates as a social supermarket with a membership-based model, where shoppers pay a one-off joining fee of £5 and then £4 for each visit.
The social supermarket has allowed members of the local community to afford extra food and treats their families over Christmas
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In return, members can access a wide range of groceries at reduced prices.
The store opened in June 2024 and now has around 330 members, with members coming from the Reddish, Heaton Norris and Heaton Chapel areas.
The shop is open twice a week, and is supported by Stockport Council and local organisations, including Vernon Building Society.
The charity works by redistributing surplus food from major supermarkets and wholesalers where much of the stock would otherwise be disposed of due to over-ordering or seasonal demand.
This can include items such as ice cream during colder months and as a result, the selection of food varies from week to week.
Re:dish CEO Lynn Brandwood said the store differs from traditional food banks in several ways.
Ms Brandwood said: “The main difference between us and a food bank is that there’s no referral needed, so it’s open to everybody in the community.”
She said members are accompanied by a personal shopper during their visit.
Families are able to get more out of their Christmas thanks to this community initiative
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Ms Brandwood said this approach helps build relationships and ensures shoppers feel supported.
She said: “You get shown around by a personal shopper so you get the chance for a chat and the savings mean there’s money for rent, bills, Christmas presents or a night out”.
Other members have also spoken about the benefits of using the store.
Sue Bredbury, 63, from Reddish, said she was able to buy items she would not usually afford.
“I picked up luxury items like strawberries and ice cream today but getting the vegetables here really means I can save money.
“Being able to come here and pay £4 to get the bulk of the week’s shopping is amazing.”
Mandy Carter, 69, who also lives in Reddish, said the changing stock keeps shopping interesting.
She told BBC Radio Manchester the weekly selection often includes staple vegetables.
Shoppers receive personal assistance around the shop if needed
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These items help her prepare meals such as soup, and the savings reduce financial pressure during colder months.
She said the store has helped her manage household costs, including heating bills, and focuses heavily on fresh fruit and vegetables.
Chilled and frozen foods are also available, which are intended to help members prepare balanced meals at home.
Members are allowed to select one item from each table, freezer and section, but can take multiple pieces of fruit and vegetables.
In addition to providing food, re:dish Good Stuff is operating as a warm space during winter.
The store is part of the Live Well Warm Spaces scheme, an initiative which provides a warm and safe environment for residents during colder weather.
The charity has said demand for its services continues to grow as households face ongoing cost pressures.
