The Collaborative Research Award 2024 grant will support research efforts to explore and enhance Social Supermarkets (SSMs) operations in Ireland, providing a much-needed framework for their successful implementation. Social supermarkets are community-driven initiatives that offer food and essential goods at reduced costs to individuals and families in need, while also providing advice and addressing social exclusion. The project will be led by Principal Investigator Dr Emma Beacom, Cork University Business School UCC and Dr Sinéad Furey, Co-Investigator, Ulster University Business School (UUBS).
The grant (€4,700) is for a groundbreaking research project titled “Development and Management of Social Supermarkets (SSMs) in the Republic of Ireland: Knowledge Exchange from Northern Ireland Counterparts.”
The key objectives of the research include:
- Investigating existing SSM models' standard operating procedures, as well as identifying associated barriers and facilitators.
- Facilitating a knowledge exchange on SSM implementation and management between stakeholders in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
- Developing a comprehensive framework for the effective implementation and management of SSMs in the Republic of Ireland.
This grant was jointly awarded with UUBS who will collaborate on the research which aims to inform the introduction of SSMs in the Republic of Ireland, drawing on the knowledge and experiences of SSM stakeholders in Northern Ireland.
Dr Emma Beacom, Department of Food Business and Development, Cork University Business School, UCC, and Principal investigator stated: “To date the use of the social supermarket model as a means of short-term food aid has been limited in the Republic of Ireland in comparison to Northern Ireland. This research provides an opportunity for knowledge exchange between stakeholders across the Island to inform future social supermarket development.".
Dr Sinéad Furey, Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Ulster University Business School and Co-Investigator said: “The community and voluntary sector works tirelessly to support people in vulnerable situations. With recent statistics finding that one in seven of us in Northern Ireland experiences some level of food insecurity, the use of charitable food aid via social supermarkets will continue while a more permanent and sustainable solution is sought. By working across institutions, there’s a huge opportunity to maximise knowledge and share insights on this important issue to help people living in food poverty.”
For more information or interviews, please contact:
- Thomas McCarthy, Marketing and communications Manager at Cork University Business School, UCC at [email protected]