Tackling UK Corporate Surplus Responsibility

Biffa joins forces with Company Shop Group to help tackle UK Corporate Surplus Responsibility

Biffa is pleased to announce today the acquisition of Company Shop Group (‘CSG’), the UK’s leading and largest redistributor of surplus food and household products. The deal will see the two companies work together to deliver a unique circular economy proposition to the food manufacturing and FMCG sectors, helping some of the UK’s biggest operators unlock sustainable value from the 141,000 tonnes of quality surplus food and beverage that is produced in the UK each year.

Based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, Company Shop Group is the UK’s leading and largest redistributor of surplus food and household products. Through a business model which puts environmental and social purpose at its heart, CSG prevents waste by identifying surplus products and then collecting, processing and redistributing it for sale through its unique network of membership-based outlets, whilst ensuring compliance with stringent food safety standards. Surplus products include production overruns, trial products, or produce that has been incorrectly labelled or packaged, which without intervention would be destined to become waste.

The membership base of Company Shop stores comprises employees working in the FMCG supply chain, the emergency services, NHS and the armed forces.

The Group also operates an award-winning social enterprise, Community Shop, a not-for-profit community interest company with a network of six community hubs supporting some of the most deprived areas of UK. Supported by donations from supplier partners, Community Shop provides its members with vital access to deeply discounted food, as well as life-changing learning and development programmes. 

The acquisition will see CSG join Biffa as part of the latest in a series of investments which have seen Biffa leverage its leading position in sustainable waste management to unlock circular economy innovation and expand its capability to support its customers’ waste reduction and recycling targets.

CSG will work alongside Biffa’s existing Specialist Services teams, through which Biffa already provides bespoke solutions to customers in the food manufacturing and e-commerce sectors, adding redistribution of surplus produce to Biffa’s leading offering in waste management and recycling and providing a platform for CSG’s long-term expansion and growth.

Commenting, Michael Topham, Chief Executive of Biffa plc said:

“The acquisition of Company Shop Group strengthens Biffa’s leadership position in the UK circular economy. Its redistribution services complement Biffa’s established waste and recycling services, and supply of closed loop recycled raw materials. As the only commercial redistributor of scale in the UK, Company Shop Group is the market-leader in a growing sector, with a strong, credible growth plan which we will deliver together. Biffa and Company Shop Group share a common set of goals, including the continued development of profitable, sustainable waste management solutions while making a meaningful contribution to society. We welcome all of Company Shop Group’s members, partners and staff to Biffa and look forward to the next stage of the business’ development.”

Steph McGinty, Group Managing Director of Company Shop Group, commented:

“We are proud to be the UK’s leading redistributor of surplus food and household products. We are a passionate business working for our industry, our colleagues, our members and our communities; we call it Corporate Surplus Responsibility.

“Hallmarked by long-standing and powerful partnerships, at the heart of our business is the understanding that big challenges need big solutions, and these are always better delivered in partnership.  Together, as part of Biffa plc and aligned in vision and purpose, we will continue to innovate and grow, enabling us to provide even more sustainable solutions for all of our stakeholders.  

“I am delighted to lead Company Shop Group in this exciting new chapter of its journey.”