MID West Simon is to open a social grocery in the city centre to support those who have been hit hardest by the ongoing cost of living crisis.
The charity has said it will develop the new ethically-focused concept store on Henry Street in Limerick City, aided by funding from the JP McManus Pro Am golf tournament.
Mid West Simon will renovate and re-develop a building on Henry Street as part the initiative, set to be the first of its kind anywhere in Ireland.
Aiming to open in 2025, the social grocery will offer shopping at a discounted rate, as well as various support services, including skills and training courses, money management workshops, advice and information services, and cooking and food skills classes.
Eleshia Fahy, Interim CEO of Mid West Simon, said the charity “started to look at the possibility of opening a social grocery in Limerick in 2020 when we commissioned UL to carry out a feasibility study. Since that study was published, we have been working on this project.”
“Thanks to the funding that we have received from the JP McManus Pro Am, we have now been able to purchase a suitable building and to get the project underway.”
The grocery also aims to give shoppers a broader range of dietary options compared to food banks, noting a social grocery can contribute to healthier eating habits and associated physical health benefits, as well as reducing stigma behind accessing a food bank while helping reduce food waste and increase employability.
