Praise for Kennishead food larder as it celebrates its first birthday

A community food larder in Glasgow has marked its first anniversary of supporting customers through the cost-of-living crisis.

Wheatley Homes Glasgow, part of Wheatley Group, in partnership with Good Food Scotland, opened the Kennishead Larder last year.

The larder, based on the ground floor of a Wheatley Homes Glasgow multi-storey in Kennishead Avenue, offers customers food and household items at significantly lower prices than supermarkets.

More than 450 customers have now signed up to become a member.

Wheatley Homes Glasgow tenant Michelle Park, who stays in the multi-storey flats at Kennishead Avenue, said: “The larder has helped a lot of people in the community, especially with the cost-of-living crisis.

“The staff are brilliant and they are always up for a chat. The larder is so friendly.

“Opening the larder was the best thing they have ever done for this community.”

The larder which opens every Tuesday and Wednesday celebrated its first birthday by giving customers £3 off their shopping and invited customers to come along to enjoy cake and music.

Kennishead Larder Co-ordinator, Suzanne Oliver said: “It is amazing how much the larder has grown in the last year.

“It has really brought the community together. Visiting the larder is like a social outing for many of the customers. Sometimes we are the only people they might see that day or even that week.

“The larder offers people more than just cheaper food, it brings people closer together. They can come in and have a chat which means the world to them.”

Good Food Scotland Chair, Chris Stephens MP, attended the first anniversary and presented Suzanne with flowers to mark the day.

He said: “The community shop larder model we have developed is excellent in terms of helping people with their food costs and saving money. We are helping people to stretch their money a bit more, which, in a cost-of-living crisis, is extremely helpful.

“I believe everyone should have the right to food and what we have developed here is a model in which people can get access to affordable food. The larder is open to all which is very important as everybody is feeling the pinch.”

Ends

Image caption: (L-R): Good Food Scotland Chair Chris Stephens MP, Kennishead Larder Co-ordinator Suzanne Oliver, customers Michelle Park, Raymond King and Michelle Walker.