A sandwich shop chain with a keen social conscience will be opening doors on its first outlet in Aberdeen next month.
Social Bite, which donates all profits to good causes and employs homeless people, has commenced work on a new 450 sq ft site on Union Street.
The business, founded by social entrepreneur Josh Littlejohn hit the headlines in December when thousands of people joined in its campaign to buy a meal for a homeless person for £5. Initially the company thought it might raise donations enough to feed 800 at its shops in Edinburgh and Glasgow but instead sold thousands of the vouchers, enough to supply meals to the homeless for a year.
Mr Littlejohn, who also runs the Scottish Business Awards, has also persuaded Hollywood icon George Clooney to visit the shop in Edinburgh as well as deliver a speech at the awards scheme in November.
With a £175,000 grant from the People’s Postcode Lottery, Social Bite’s fifth Scottish outlet will cater for the lunchtime needs of city centre workers and shoppers while offering training, jobs and food to the homeless.
Mr Littlejohn said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be opening in Aberdeen after many months of planning. The people of Edinburgh and Glasgow have really bought into what we call our ‘social business’ model and we’ve had a lot of requests to expand into Aberdeen.
“Thanks to funding from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, our dream is now a reality and we’re already recruiting for the new shop.”
Social Bite’s menus are created by Michelin star chef Mike Mathieson and the business’ aim is to compete with big name lunchtime regulars such as Pret a Manger and Greggs, while helping homeless and supporting good causes.
A quarter of Social Bite’s staff is made up of formerly homeless people and the business operates a “suspended” coffee and food programme whereby customers can pay for a hot drink or food for a homeless person.
The Union Street shop will initially employ five to six people and locals are being encouraged to get in touch if they want to work for Social Bite or nominate a homeless person who wants to turn their life around and get back to gainful employment.
The group also plans to open in Dundee later this summer.
Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, Clara Govier, said, “Josh and his team do an amazing job and I’m delighted that the people of Aberdeen will be able to experience Social Bite, thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery.”
Social Bite recently launched a corporate catering division to compete in the country’s thriving contract catering sector and is already on track to be Scotland’s largest independent contract caterer in its first year.
The new corporate catering arm grew 439% and generated almost £200,000 in revenue in its first six months of operation, attracting regular custom from the likes of Deloitte, JP Morgan, Pinsent Masons, and PwC, the firm claimed.
Mr Littlejohn said this points towards shift in attitude among corporate Scotland with more companies now willing to get behind quality social enterprises.
He said: “It’s been a great start for the catering business and we’re extremely grateful to every company which has supported us. We see this as an area with huge growth potential as I think the corporate sector’s view of social enterprises is changing – our expansion into Aberdeen means we can now cater for the city’s bustling business community in everything from business breakfasts to boardroom lunches.
“In the past there was a misperception that social enterprises couldn’t compete in terms of quality but we’re proving otherwise through the food we’re providing and the way we present it. We’re fortunate to have a Michelin star executive chef involved in the creation of our menus and if there’s any doubt we even offer new clients a free sample platter so they can taste for themselves.
“It’s all very well saying ‘buy from us and support a good cause’, but when big businesses entertain important clients they rightly require great service and great produce, so that is what we give them.”