Discount Dragon partners with Gordon Brown’s Multibank charity initiative
Leigh-based ecommerce business Huddled Group, has announced a significant partnership with former Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s Multibank initiative.
This collaboration aims to address poverty by distributing essential everyday items to those in need, using goods from Huddled Group’s excess stock.
Founded by Lancaster-born entrepreneur Martin Higginson, Huddled Group has seen 1.5 million products reaching 150,000 beneficiaries across Fife, Wigan, and Swansea, with a new distribution site established in Greenford, West London, in July 2024.
Multibank, established by Gordon Brown in late 2022, seeks to mitigate the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on UK households by repurposing surplus products for public good. This initiative exemplifies a dual-purpose approach: fighting poverty and reducing waste.
As part of this partnership, Huddled Group will work with its suppliers to source excess stock at vastly reduced prices or occasionally for free. To date, its subsidiary Discount Dragon has distributed over 500,000 toothbrushes, more than 40,000 nappies, and 20,000 bars of soap to individuals and families across the UK. In a notable gesture ahead of the Greenford site’s opening, Discount Dragon donated 6,500 boxes of Nestle Baby Rice, valued at over £30,000.
In December 2022, Discount Dragon was acquired by Huddled Group in a £4m deal. This acquisition was a strategic move to bolster Huddled Group’s e-commerce ambitions and enhance its ability to source and distribute excess stock efficiently. This acquisition has enabled Discount Dragon to expand its reach and impact, supporting Huddled Group’s mission to reduce waste and provide for those in need.
Martin Higginson, CEO of Huddled Group, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating: “We are very proud to partner with former Prime Minister Gordon Brown in his mission to create lasting positive impact for disadvantaged communities around the UK. We are committed to working with the Multibank’s charities to alleviate poverty and we are pleased to do so in a manner that allows us to continue on our mission to reduce waste in the FMCG supply chain. We understand the issues faced by families today and will continue to be a force for good, helping those facing the greatest challenges.”
Gordon Brown, the founder of The Multibank, also praised the partnership: “Given the scale of the poverty crisis facing families in Britain, we are very grateful to Huddled for the support they have already given to Multibanks and their promise to continue to support in the future.”
Keely Dalfen, CEO of the anti-poverty charity The Brick, which participates in Wigan’s Multibank, highlighted the impact of the partnership: “Too many people in our local community are experiencing poverty and unable to afford the basic essentials so many of us take for granted. The demand on our services in the last two years has been unprecedented. Every day we see the amazing resilience of the people we support who are experiencing tough times, but the triple threat of a cost-of-living crisis, social care budget cuts, and economic recession continues to make their lives increasingly hard. This partnership with Huddled will make a real difference to families experiencing difficult times, facing the impossible decision to eat, heat, or keep clean. Thank you for their support which will ensure that the help is here to those who need it most.”
The Multibank initiative began with the ‘Big House’ project in Fife, Scotland, in 2022. Led by Amazon, Gordon Brown, and the local charity The Cottage Family Centre, this model has supported 50,000 families in Fife, Edinburgh, and the Lothians with more than 500,000 donated products.
Multibanks are an innovative solution designed to combat both poverty and pollution. By distributing goods such as personal hygiene items, bedding, and clothing through teachers, social workers, and charities, Multibanks ensure that usable products do not go to waste but instead reach those who need them most. This partnership between Discount Dragon and Multibank exemplifies a successful model of corporate social responsibility and community support.
