The Co-operative, a major retailer in the UK, will make sure thousands of tonnes of food will be given to charity rather than turned to waste. Surplus chilled food items such as yoghurt, meat, fruit and vegetables are passed on to FareShare, a charity that donates food to the vulnerable and needy. In a 10-week-trial, The Co-op has redistributed 32 tonnes of food from the depot, contributing towards 76,192 meals. By expanding the service across its nine countrywide depots, the supermarket could provide 500 tonnes worth of food, enough for more than 1 million meals in 2016. Beneficiaries will include homeless hostels, women’s refuges and breakfast clubs for disadvantaged children.
This article was originally published on September 14, 2015
