New social supermarket to open in Newcastle under Lyme this week

A new community Social Supermarket is preparing to open its doors in Newcastle under Lyme this week, offering affordable food and essential household items in a setting built around choice, dignity and community.

Community Cupboard NUL CIC will officially open the supermarket at 21 Andrew Place, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 1DL, at 4pm on Friday 9 October 2026.

The opening marks another stage in the development of Community Cupboard, which began in May 2025 as a small community food support initiative.

Since then, the organisation has worked to develop longer term approaches to supporting people experiencing food insecurity and financial hardship.

Shopping through a token system

Rather than operating as a conventional supermarket, Community Cupboard will use a token based system.

Members can deposit money into their Community Cupboard account, which is then converted into tokens to spend on products in the shop.

One token is equivalent to roughly 50p.

A £5 deposit provides 10 tokens, while £10 gives members 20 tokens. A £15 deposit provides 30 tokens and £20 provides 40 tokens.

Each item available in the shop will have its own token value.

Community Cupboard is donation based and works with a variety of organisations to source stock, with the aim of making products more affordable than average supermarket prices.

The system has been designed to allow members to decide which products they want rather than receiving a pre-selected collection of food.

A different approach to food support

Community Cupboard has developed its service around the belief that financial difficulty should not mean people losing their dignity or feeling judged when seeking support.

The organisation has previously supported local people through emergency food parcels and essential items while working towards a longer term model.

The new Social Supermarket is the next stage in that development.

Instead of receiving a pre-selected food parcel, members will be able to browse the shop and choose affordable food and essentials according to their own needs.

The organisation says it wants the supermarket to feel welcoming, respectful and inclusive.

Visitors to the Community Cupboard headquarters and shop will also be offered a free hot drink and the opportunity to have a chat with members of the team.

People will be welcome whether they are visiting to shop, looking for support or simply hoping to connect with others in the community.

Thomas Cliffe, Founder and Voluntary Director, Community Cupboard NUL CIC said:

“Community Cupboard started with a simple belief: that when people are struggling financially, they should have somewhere to turn without feeling judged or losing their dignity.

Seeing this journey develop from a small idea into a dedicated Social Supermarket is incredibly exciting for us and, more importantly, for the community we want to serve.

We want Community Cupboard to be somewhere people can come, feel welcome, have choice and know that they belong.

Opening our doors on 9th October is a huge moment for us, but it is really just the beginning.”

Community Cupboard Impact to date:

● 2,000+ meals provided
● 1,500+ volunteer hours
● 800+ period-care products distributed
● £19,349 National Lottery Community Fund grant received in December 2025

What will be available?

Stock will depend on donations, availability and what Community Cupboard is able to source.

Everyday products expected to be available include:

• Tinned food
• Pasta, rice and cupboard staples
• Bread and basic groceries
• Seasonal stock
• Dairy and freezer products
• Household cleaning and laundry products
• Child related items

Membership now open

Membership for the Social Supermarket is already available online ahead of Friday’s opening.

Membership lasts for 12 months and each person receives a unique membership number following registration.

After completing online registration, members can visit the Social Supermarket to activate their membership card and start using the service.

People can also register when they first visit the shop.

The registration process provides members with a Community Cupboard keyring, their unique account number and access to the token based shopping system.

Members can then deposit cash into an account and convert it into tokens.

Transactions are recorded through Community Cupboard’s online system so deposits, spending and remaining token balances can be maintained for future visits.

The Community Cupboard NUL CIC Social Supermarket opens at 21 Andrew Place, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 1DL, at 4pm on Friday 9 October 2026.

Membership is available online at:

https://www.zeffy.com/en-GB/ticketing/social-supermarket-membership-community-cupboard-nul

Together, we can make a hunger-free community.

Community Cupboard NUL CIC is a community-led organisation based in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Established in May 2025, the organisation works to support people experiencing financial hardship through food, essential items, volunteering, community support and its developing Social Supermarket.

Its approach is centred around dignity, choice, kindness, community and belonging. The new Social Supermarket at 21 Andrew Place represents the next stage of Community Cupboard’s development.