Aldi introducing ‘community donation points’ to stores nationwide

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Source: Aldi

Aldi’s community donation points will be located near the packing benches in stores

Aldi is introducing community donation points in stores nationwide, allowing customers to drop off food or household products to go to local charities.

The donation boxes will be found near the packing benches in stores from October, and products will be accepted for donation regardless of where they were purchased.

The donations will be distributed to charities, food banks and local groups linked to Aldi’s community redistribution partner Neighbourly.

Aldi has published a list of the 25 most in-demand items, from tinned food to toiletries and laundry products, to guide customers on what to give.

The move is a step towards Aldi’s target of donating 10 million meals across the country in 2021, which it announced in January. It follows the donation of over a million meals to charities, community groups and food banks over the school summer holidays, according to the discounter.

“This year, we are committed to donating more meals to those in need than ever before, and we know our customers want to help too,” said Aldi UK MD of corporate responsibility Mary Dunn.

“This is why we are working with Neighbourly to extend our current donations scheme, making it easy for customers to donate food and essential supplies to those in need year-round.”

Neighbourly CEO Steve Butterworth said: “Customer donations can help make a real difference, and I’d encourage anyone who is able to get involved to do so. The list of most-needed items should help guide customers when deciding what to donate. However, anything people can contribute will be a massive help.”

Several other major grocers such as Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose and Co-op already have food donation points in stores.

Here is Aldi’s list of the 25 most in-demand items:

1. Coffee

2. Cereal

3. Fruit juice

4. Tinned meat

5. Pasta/cooking sauce

6. Tea

7. Tinned fruit

8. UHT milk

9. Tinned tomatoes

10. Tinned vegetables