Tesco launches food donation scheme

Tesco and FareShare are calling on charities and community groups in and around Ballymena to register for an exciting new scheme which will see unsold food become meals for vulnerable people across the town.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Jun 2016, 11:08 BST
Updated 17th Jun 2016, 12:12 BST

As part of its ongoing pledge to cut food waste, Tesco’s CommunityFood Connection programme with FareShare FoodCloud recruits and supports charities and community groups, linking them to Tesco stores via an innovative app that allows store teams to alert them to surplus unsold food items available at the end of each day.

The unsold food is free and includes fresh produce, such as fruit, vegetables and bakery products. Chilled products like meat, dairy and ready meals are also offered.

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FareShare FoodCloud is the result of a unique three-way partnership bringing the charity, social enterprise and commercial sectors together.

FareShare brings its knowledge of the UK charity food redistribution market and its experience of providing food. FoodCloud brings its knowledge of the technology and online applications needed to connect businesses with surplus food.

Tesco brings the people and technology required to deliver a reliable and well-managed programme, and is the first retailer to invest in, and roll out, FareShare FoodCloud.

Rachel Finn, Head of Community Food Programmes at Tesco, said: “No food that can be eaten should go to waste. We’re really excited to start working on this initiative to ensure that any unsold food we have is made use of.

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“We are looking forward to forging strong links with local charities and community groups in Ballymena, and to use this initiative to support their efforts to help vulnerable people in our community.”

FareShare FoodCloud is the latest step in Tesco’s work with FareShare on the provision of surplus food.

The partnership spans over three years and includes activities which make food available from the Tesco supply chain, distribution centres and dotcom centres.

This has seen nine million meals made up of surplus food donated to over 2,200 charities and community groups across the UK.

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Tesco’s store in Ballymena is amongst some of the first groups of Tesco stores to roll out the initiative, following a pilot in 14 stores last year which saw Tesco donate over 22 tonnes of food to more than 50 charities, the equivalent to over 50,000 meals.

Any charities or community groups in Ballymena using food to support people that would like to access the scheme,should register their interest by visiting www.fareshare.org.uk/fareshare-foodcloud

Related topics:TescoFareShareBallymena