Company Shop Group employs 1,000 in the UK and has redistributed more than 225m products over the last three years. Today it has 12 shops in England and Scotland and six community hubs in deprived areas offering even bigger discounts.
The company prevents waste by identifying surplus products - production overruns, trial products, or produce that has been incorrectly labelled or packaged - and then collecting, processing and selling them.
It was set up 50 years ago by John Marren and has just been sold to national waste management company Biffa plc.
Mr Marren said: “I am proud that this decision will enable Company Shop Group to step confidently into the future, as part of the global movement to reduce waste in our industry and our society. Today, more than ever, we are called to address the climate emergency, build our economy and support our communities.
“Like the business I founded over 50 years ago, Biffa plc is another vanguard, changing the way that people think about waste."
Company Shop stores are open to employees working in the food supply chain, the care and emergency services, NHS and the armed forces.
Michael Topham, chief executive of Biffa said: “As the only commercial redistributor of scale in the UK, Company Shop Group is the market-leader in a growing sector, with a strong, credible growth plan which we will deliver together.
“We share a common set of goals, including the continued development of profitable, sustainable waste management solutions while making a meaningful contribution to society.”