Sainsbury's to sell Big Issue in store to protect street sellers in Milton Keynes

McColl’s will also stock the magazine for the first time.

The move comes following a recent decision made by The Big Issue to safeguard its network of vendors amidst the coronavirus pandemic, by asking that they stop selling for the foreseeable future.

The Big Issue Group offers vulnerable and homeless people in the UK a means of legitimate income through selling the magazine to the public. But the introduction of social distancing has seen sales plummet, and the move to a ban on all non-essential contact outside of households has made the continued sale of the magazine by vendors impossible.

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. The magazine will cost its usual cover price of £3 both in store and online, with 50 per cent of the profits going to a vendor support fund.

The temporary measure will remain in place until vendors can return to work, and is part of Sainsbury’s ongoing action plan to support the most vulnerable through Covid-19.