Colchester Community Supermarket opens in Greenstead

The Colchester Community Supermarket had its grand opening on Friday, at The Centre in Hawthorne Avenue in Greenstead.

This is now the seventh community supermarket in Essex, with the council saying they aim to open one in every borough and district in Essex by the summer.

Opening - Mayor of Colchester John Jowers cutting the ribbon at the event (Image: NQ)

Items - snacks available at the community supermarket (Image: NQ)

Items available inside the new shop include cereal, tinned food, hygiene products, period products, nappies, toilet paper, milk, snacks and much more.

Julie Young, ward councillor for Greenstead said: “This community supermarket demonstrates how we're stronger together.

“I see quite a lot of hopelessness here in Greenstead. This is many many months of work and my gratitude goes to Elizabeth, because if she didn’t step forward, we wouldn’t be here today.

Support - Tim Young, Mark Cory, Julie Young, Elizabeth Akinyemi, Natalie Sommers, John Jowers and Susan Jowers (Image: NQ)

Outside - the Colchester Community Supermarket (Image: NQ)

“At first, I was unsure if this would come to fruition. We would not be here without the kindness and compassion of Elizabeth.

“We as politicians are only as good as the people we work alongside. Elizabeth is a resident here and an inspiration to us all.”

Elizabeth Akinyemi, the co-pastor and community pastor of Divine Assembly Ministries, who got the ball rolling on the community supermarket, thanked everyone for coming to the opening.

Proud - Stephen Onichabor, John Jowers and Elizabeth Akinyemi (Image: NQ)

She said: “We are here today because of immense support from organisations and from people.

“This project has shown me how caring the community in Colchester is.”

She gave a special thanks to Colchester Council for supporting the supermarket as well as the businesses and individuals who donated items and labour to help set it up.

System - how the new community supermarket works (Image: NQ)

Opening - inside the new community supermarket (Image: NQ)

Natalie Sommers, Colchester Council’s portfolio holder for communities, said: “In a world where the cost of living continues to rise it's great to see this compassion and solidarity to ensure no one goes hungry in our community.

“I have no doubt this will forge further ties. I have profound gratitude to each and every one of you for your resilience and support.”

Colchester’s parliamentary candidate, Pam Cox, said: “This is a fantastic community initiative brilliantly led by Elizabeth.

'Shocking' - parliamentary candidate Pam Cox at the community supermarket (Image: NQ)

“In her opening remarks, she talked about the enormous strain that many people are under and the financial pressures many are facing.

“This is a brilliant initiative and we need jobs that pay and prices for everyday items that people can afford.

“It’s shocking in a way that we need so many food banks and community supermarkets.”

Crisis - resident Deborah Etareri in support of the supermarket (Image: NQ)

Deborah Etareri, a Greenstead resident, said: “A lot of people are in crisis, they don’t have money.

“This new supermarket is lovely, people are hungry and don’t have money to survive. I think I am one of them too.

“People are suffering, so this will help a lot of people. I saw a mother of four, who is struggling to feed her children, so people like her will appreciate it.

“The Greenstead community are trying really hard to help people here.”