A NEW Affordable Foods store is to open in Bude later this week, with hopes that it will help those on a budget in the community.

With high unemployment and wages just hitting the minimum wage, the Affordable Foods franchise was introduced by young entrepreneur, Charlotte Danks, who wanted to give people in Cornwall the chance to buy decent food products that are sometimes a little too expensive for some to afford in other supermarkets

Charlotte told the Post: “I wanted to provide a service to the people of Cornwall; it is one of the most deprived counties in the country, and I wanted to develop a business that would help those on a low income or who are on benefits.”

Charlotte first started Affordable Foods in her hometown of Newquay, and the business was a greater success than she imagined, which then led to providing St Austell with an Affordable Foods store.

This store is proving to be even more successful than the Newquay shop.

With a third store now opening in Bude, customers will be able to buy essential items for their every-day lives from the price of 25p and upwards.

The products being sold there will be near or just past its sell-by-date, damaged or given to the franchise due to too much stock in the supermarkets, with would have otherwise ended up as waste.

Formerly known as ‘Crazy Suze Party World’, where fancy dress clothing and accessories were sold, 4 Belle Vue Lane will be taking on the new venture, with Sue Jenkins and her business partner Glenn —who is also a relative of Charlotte’s — running the store.

Charlotte said Sue and Glenn were nervous at first, but they soon came round to the idea and are now very much looking forward to working with her in her ever-growing business.

Sue Jenkins said: “We have been very busy. We’re so excited, and we’ve had good reports. I think it will be an asset to Bude. It’s great for those on a budget, or for families on a low income. No matter what your circumstances, everybody loves a bargain.”

Charlotte added: “Obviously, Bude is a lot more far out that Newquay and St Austell, but I know that a lot of people from Bude have travelled to the other Affordable Foods stores, and I wanted to provide the same service for them nearer to home.”

Although she’s very much focused on her current stores, Charlotte hopes to one day expand to every main town in Cornwall, and is already setting up another venture in Bodmin, due to open in May.

Sue and Glenn are currently pricing everything up and getting prepared for the shop to open this Saturday, at 10am, and are hopeful for this business to flourish in Bude.