Wholesalers urge suppliers to extend best-before dates to prevent food waste

• Wholesalers fear up to £10m worth of stock could go to waste due to the closure of hospitality businesses

• FWD has distributed a pack for members detailing the updated Wrap guidelines

Wholesalers are urging suppliers to extend best-before dates on ambient goods as they look to avoid wasting up to £10m worth of stock.

Ambient is the latest category to be in danger of going to waste as the hospitality industry remains shuttered, leaving many foodservice wholesalers without customers for food that is rapidly nearing its best-before date.

The Federation of Wholesale Distributors is following Wrap’s guidance, issued last month, on extending best-before dates and is encouraging suppliers to prolong the shelf life of goods.

Wrap’s guidance , which aims to ensure dates are not a barrier to redistribution particularly during the crisis, states that all food with a best-before date can be sold and consumed after that date, as long as it is still good quality.

FWD has distributed a pack for members detailing the updated Wrap guidelines along with advice on how to implement those changes.

Wholesalers are advised to obtain a certificate with the extended date from the relevant supplier and should communicate this to their customers.

“Stock going out of date is a big issue for our members currently,” said Country Range Group CEO and FWD chairman Coral Rose. “We have been working with our suppliers to get extensions to Best Before end dates and many have supported us.”

Unitas MD Darren Goldney said it was also encouraging suppliers to anticipate date issues and discount stock nearing best-before dates.

“This is a multimillion-pound issue for the industry,” he warned

Ellie Krupa, sales director, grocery mults at Premier Foods said: “No one wants to see good food go to waste unnecessarily. On a case-by-case basis we will consider whether it is appropriate to provide an extension to shelf life.”