Sainsbury’s has partnered with community engagement platform Neighbourly to redirect more surplus food to local charities.
The retailer is ramping up efforts to increase food donations to charities and community groups while tackling food waste across its operations.
The partnership with Neighbourly is being rolled out nationwide after a successful trial that started last month, with all of its supermarkets expected to take part in the initiative by the end of the year.
The scheme will connect Sainsbury’s with more than 17,000 local charities and community groups such as schools, homeless centres and breakfast clubs.
The move, which marks the first time Sainsbury’s has collaborated with Neighbourly, is part of the supermarket’s pledge to halve its food waste by 2030.
“We’re delighted to have partnered with Neighbourly to ensure we’re supporting people in our local communities through donations of surplus food from our stores,” said Ruth Cranston, Sainsbury’s head of corporate responsibility and sustainability. “We’re committed to reducing food waste and we’re really excited to be working with Neighbourly to help us with our mission.”
The Neighbourly platform will allow charities to co-ordinate daily collections from their local Sainbury’s store.
Other supermarkets such as M&S, Aldi and Lidl already work with Neighbourly to help tackle food waste and improve food security for those in need.
“Getting surplus food to community causes is a win-win: making sure unsold food is put to the best possible use while combatting the environmental impact of wasted food,” said Neighbourly CEO Steve Butterworth.
“Sainsbury’s is genuinely committed to local action, and we’re pleased to be scaling up our partnership to help forge strong community collaboration between stores and their neighbourhood charity partners.”
The grocer will also continue to work with food charity network FareShare.
Sainsbury’s customers looking to support local communities can also donate groceries directly at the food donation points available in stores across the country.
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