A FOOD SURPLUS DISTRIBUTION initiative being operated by Tesco stores has reached the milestone of serving up 16,301 meals in Moray.
The Community Food Connection has reached 10million meals throughout the country – assisting more than 5000 charities and community groups.
Part of the store’s target to ensure no food safe for human consumption will go to waste by the end of this year, charities that benefit from the scheme includes homeless hostels, breakfast clubs for disadvantaged children, domestic violence refuges and lunch clubs for older people.
The scheme is run in partnership with food redistribution charity FareShare and enables Tesco stores to donate unsold food to feed people in need through an app developed by Irish Social Enterprise, FoodCloud.
The app lets local charities know there is surplus food available at the end of each day. Community groups can then collect and use the food to provide nutritious meals to vulnerable people. Working with FareShare, Tesco colleagues in Elgin and Forres have helped enlist local charities to join the initiative.
The scheme is already live in all large Tesco stores, and is currently rolling out to a further 1800 convenience stores nationwide.
Tony McElroy, Head of Communications Scotland, at Tesco said: “It’s great to see the difference Community Food Connection is making by providing people in need with meals from food that would otherwise go to waste.
“We know that it frees up time and resources so that the charities using it can focus on offering other services. Our colleagues are playing an important role, too. Together with FareShare, they’re helping to make sure local charities across the UK have access to surplus food from our stores.”
Lindsay Boswell, Chief Executive of FareShare, said: “Reaching 10million meals through our network of 5000 charities and community groups is a phenomenal achievement. There’s no reason for good quality, in-date food from stores to be thrown away when it could go to a charity who needs it. A big thank you to Tesco for their commitment to tackling food waste.”
If you are a charity or community group that could benefit from the support of Community Food Connection, visit www.fareshare.org.uk/fareshare-foodcloud to register.