EMERGENCY service workers, NHS staff and police in the West of Scotland are being offered cut-price groceries from big name brands in the first 'green' supermarket of its kind.

Company Shop Group buys surplus stock from supermarkets including Waitrose, Tesco and Co-Op and sells it to members with discounts of up to 60%, helping reduce the amount of waste food sent to landfill.

Stock may be classed as ‘surplus’ for a variety of reasons such as wonky labels, overstock or food could be seasonal.

The company already owns at least six stores in England and Scotland’s first stores will open in Renfrew on Wednesday at the Blythswood Retail Park.

The group says it aims to “help stretched budgets to go further and reduce waste by helping perfectly good food and household items to be used the way they were originally intended.”

It employs more than 700 people across the UK and the supermarkets involved say it has helped them cut down on millions of pounds of food waste.

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Membership is free but is reserved for NHS workers, including students, ambulance workers, volunteers, police officers, dentists, firefighters and other Fire Service staff as well as pensioners who used to work for any of these groups.

Workers in the fast-moving consumer goods food supply chain also qualify.

Jane Marren, Managing Director of Company Shop, said: “We are delighted to officially open our first Scottish store here in Renfrew.

“This is an area with a thriving food manufacturing industry and hard-working families who will benefit hugely from accessing discounted food in our stores which might otherwise have gone go to waste.

“Our model helps businesses to reduce waste, protect the planet, feed hard-working families and support communities.

“We are hugely grateful for all of the support we have received so far, including from our long-standing retail partners, members, local organisations and the wider community. ”

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Derek Mackay, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy & Fair Work, and MSP for Renfrewshire North & West, said: “The resale of surplus food to prevent waste is a fantastic initiative as it will save money and prevent wastage of perfectly good food whilst also passing discounts on to local members.

“I would encourage local food manufacturers to consider signing up.”

To sign up for membership go to www.companyshopgroup.co.uk/apply-for-membership/company-shop