Mid West Simon Community Social Grocery to help combat food poverty

Mid West Simon Social Community Grocery to help combat food poverty. Mid West Simon Community staff Paul O’Sullivan, Eleshia Fahy, and Leo McKenna, pictured outside the shop units in Henry Street

Mid West Simon Community takes a bold new step in combatting food poverty with the opening of a Social Grocery in Limerick City in 2025

The proposed Limerick Social Grocery aims to offer more than just a food bank service, which Mid West Simon Communtity has been providing in the region since 2014 as it will operate on a social enterprise model, enabling people to purchase goods at significantly discounted prices.

Unlike a food bank, this Social Grocery will give people autonomy and choice, empowering them to select the items they need and prefer, rather than accepting pre-packaged goods, providing a dignified shopping experience with a hope of reducing the stigma which is often associated with food programmes.

In addition to offering affordable groceries, the Social Grocery will provide a range of support services to help individuals achieve long-term financial independence, including skills and training courses aimed at increasing employability and fostering a self-sustainable future.

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Money management workshops will be available to help members manage their finances more effectively, while advice and information services will offer support on various personal challenges. Cooking and food skills classes will promote healthier eating habits and improve food literacy.  

The Social Grocery has received strong community support, according to a survey of food bank users, 93.1 per cent expressed willingness to shop at a social grocery store. Many believe that saving money on food will positively impact their overall budgets, allowing them to allocate funds to other essentials such as clothing, holidays for their children, and paying bills.

Recognising the acute problems arising from food deprivation, Mid West Simon Community has been providing food bank services throughout the Mid West region since 2015. The feasibility study conducted by the Mid West Simon highlights, “Socially disadvantaged households consume less nutritionally-balanced diets and suffer from higher rates of diet-related chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and certain cancers at a younger age.”

Initial design work for the Social Grocery has begun at the Henry Street premises as the Mid West Simon Community remains committed to improving access to healthy food and providing services that foster self-sustainability and financial stability.