For the first time in its history, The Big Issue will become available in in major retail outlets to support the vendors who are unable to sell on the streets during the pandemic
From the 2 April, The Big Issue, the magazine sold by some of the UK’s most vulnerable people to lift themselves out of poverty, will be sold by major retailers, Sainsbury’s and McColl’s to maximise sales in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.
The Big Issue will be available to purchase from Sainsbury’s for its customers both online and in selected stores and from McColl’s, Martin’s and RS McColl in store as a temporary measure, with the magazine remaining on sale until Big Issue vendors are able to return to work.
The Big Issue, which offers homeless and vulnerably housed people across the UK a means by which to earn a legitimate income, recently had to take the decision to safeguard its network of vendors by asking that they stop selling on streets across the whole of the UK with immediate effect on 20 March for the foreseeable future.
The listings in Sainsbury’s and McColl’s are the latest in a series of innovations by The Big Issue Group to provide readers with alternative ways to purchase the magazine and help support vendors up and down the country in the face of adversity.
Customers will be able to purchase copies of The Big Issue in 164 Sainsbury’s stores, rolling out to 315 over the coming weeks, and 1,400 McColl’s stores for the price of £3 with 50 per cent of net proceeds going into a vendor support fund.
