Rotherham-based online supermarket, Food Circle, has moved into new premises in Dinnington following rapid expansion. The company, whose main aim is to tackle the issue of food waste fuelled by a national marketing campaign, has seen its customer base double within a matter of weeks.
Food Circle, which was launched in January 2018 by Sheffield Hallam graduate James Barthorpe and his business partner Paul Simpson, is the first online UK-based retailer offering surplus “in-date” healthy food and drink products to customers at half the recommended retail price.
Previously based at RiDO’s Century Business Centre in Manvers, the company has now made the move to larger premises at Matrix Business Centre, another centre operated by RiDO. The new location is ideally situated for distribution, making it easier to ship stock to customers across the nation as well as having more room to store the increasing product range.
As part of an ambitious growth strategy, they rolled out a comprehensive online and social media marketing campaign with the help of funding from a UK Steel Enterprise (UKSE) Kickstart grant in September; securing a raft of new clientele and solidifying Food Circle Supermarket’s presence as the only retailer of its kind in the UK.
James Barthorpe, co-founder of Food Circle Supermarket, said: “We’ve been in contact with UK Steel Enterprise since we pitched for their investment as part of the Y-Accelerator programme in March 2018. Since then, the team have been very pro-active in offering their advice and support which has added a lot of value to our business.
“We were also given access to a UKSE Kickstart grant of £500 which we put towards our first ever proactive marketing campaign which has helped us to reach more new customers and grow our business significantly over the last couple of months.”
Alan Stanley of UKSE, added: “I’m delighted that James and Paul’s hard work and dedication has been recognised in their nomination for a Sheffield Business Award and would like to congratulate them on behalf of everyone at UKSE for their Hallam Enterprise Award win.
“It’s excellent to see that the Kickstart grant has been of great help to Food Circle Supermarket, allowing them to reach out to their target market and promote the importance of diverting surplus food away from landfill.”
