ALDI CALL OUT FOR CHARITIES TO DONATE UNSOLD FRESH FOOD
Aldi has recently launched its food surplus scheme with community engagement platform, Neighbourly, across its stores in Wales, and is now calling on more local charities and foodbanks to register to receive regular donations.
Following a successful trial with Neighbourly in other parts of the UK, Aldi have been pairing up its stores across Wales with local good causes that will be able to collect surplus food, such as fruit, vegetables and baked goods, up to five days a week.
Last year, the supermarket donated two million meals to charities and expects to increase this by 50 per cent when the trial, which began in January 2019, is extended to all stores across the UK.
Any local charities in Wales who are looking to partner up with an Aldi store should email aldi@neighbourly.com to apply.
Fritz Walleczek, Managing Director of Corporate Responsibility at Aldi UK, said: “We’re always looking for new ways to increase the amount of food we are able to donate, as a way to give back to the communities we serve and ensure that fresh, healthy food is accessible to everyone.
“We’re looking forward to launching our partnership with Neighbourly in our stores across Wales, which will enable us to redistribute even more surplus stock, whilst supporting good causes. We hope that lots more local charities will sign up to the initiative and get involved.”
Steve Butterworth, Neighbourly CEO, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Aldi on this programme and to help them realise their ambition to benefit those communities local to each and every one of their stores across the UK. Food surplus is a challenge Aldi is committed to playing its part to address. This approach is critical to ensure surplus food finds its way easily to the good causes supporting those communities that need it most.”
Aldi has pledged to reduce operational food waste by 50% by 2030 as part of the Friends of Champions 12.3 network.
It has worked with Fareshare and Company Shop since 2012 to redistribute surplus food and is now partnering with Neighbourly to explore the benefits of more direct relationships within the communities its stores serve