A discount food store known as the 70p shop is plotting expansion across Kent and into London, with a target of opening 25 stores in three years.

Community project Niftie's in Dover is holding talks this week about opening a pop-up store in Folkestone and is also set to open outlets in Camden and Brighton by the end of the year.

The shop, which sells 120 bags of crisps for £1 and Kit Kats for 5p, aims to address food poverty by selling products close to their sell by date or stock which exporters have been unable to ship abroad in time.

It was launched in July by Nathaniel Richards, of Auden Way, Dover, after his own experience of using food banks when he was on a zero-hours contract.

He said: “It got to the point where I was sick of being exploited and getting help from the food bank. I wanted to do something for the community and for myself.”

“I contact companies all across Kent and ask if they have any spare stock..." - Nathaniel Richards, Niftie's

Bargains at Niftie's include a 25p sachet which makes two lites of soup and a large bottle of fabric softener for £2.75. Its most expensive product is 18 toilet rolls for £3. Most items cost between 20p and 75p.

The not-for-profit store in the Charlton Shopping Centre got its nickname, the 70p shop, as originally its most expensive item cost that amount.

It delivers to people in Dover for £1 and has just upped its cost for people living in Canterbury, Margate and Ashford to £5.

Mr Richard said: “I had to up the delivery price because I have to cover my fuel but it’s still not a bad price.”

The company, which has been run by Mr Richards and his wife Bethanie, takes on its first member of staff this weekend, handing out leaflets.

It has donated 150kg of food to the town’s food bank and has prevented 56 tonnes going to landfill since it launched in July.

Mr Richards aims for that to figure to rise to 10,000 tonnes saves by his third year.

Although the store buys unwanted stock it also relies on donations. Its biggest ever donations was an articulated lorry with 27 tonnes of food, including 117,000 packets of crisps.

Mr Richards said: “I contact companies all across Kent and ask if they have any spare stock. I’m now working with five regular suppliers. That is due to grow to 17.

“I could do with a few more guys supporting us. The more support we get from the community the more items we can put in the shop. We put every penny back into the project.”

He added: “My next target is to get fruit and veg in because people should be able to get their hands on affordable healthy food.”