Asda is expanding its ‘back of store’ food donation scheme, which will see the retailer enter into a new three-way partnership with long-standing food redistribution charity FareShare and local food-sharing app Olio.
The partnership with Fareshare and Olio means that surplus food, which is just past its best before date but still edible, can be collected from 209 of Asda’s stores when local charity support may not be available.
FareShare local food charities will still be prioritised in receiving donations, as Asda aims to double the amount of surplus food redistributed.
FareShare will connect Olio’s “food waste heroes” with their local Asda stores, who in turn share the food with their community free of charge.
The addition of Olio as a food redistribution partner will see over 680 donation slots added to Asda’s back of storedonation scheme over the coming weeks, helping stores to redistribute food where charities aren’t available to collect and ensuring any surplus food can be donated to those in need.
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Asda has worked with FareShare for ten years, providing 16,000 tonnes of surplus food from its stores and depots, the equivalent of over 38 million meals.
This food has since been redistributed by FareShare to their network of over 8,500 charities and community groups in the process.
Asda CCO Kris Comerford said: “Redistributing surplus food continues to be a priority for our business, and we are proud to be continuing the progress we’ve made to date.
“Through our continued work with FareShare, we will continue to prioritise local charities in ensuring they receive food donations first and foremost, while our new partnership with Olio will help us to prevent surplus food from going to waste.
“Increasing the number of donation opportunities and how we work with charity partners means we can provide even more support to local communities – while at the same time reducing food waste”.
Katie Sadler, head of FareShare Go said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Asda for supporting our mission to ensure no good food goes to waste.
“This partnership will continue to ensure charities continue to have access to food throughout the week and, where they aren’t available, Olio’s Food Waste Heroes can step in to collect unsold surplus instead of letting it go to waste.
“Asda’s decade-long support of FareShare has helped us rescue millions of meals and help strengthen communities via our network of 8,500 charities, from afterschool clubs and breakfast clubs, to homelessness charities and hospices.”
In March this year, it was revealed Asda has cut the number of electric vehicle (EV) charging points on its premises by more than two-thirds in 2023.
