Co-op launches new food redistribution scheme
The Co-op is stopping last minute sales of fresh food items to avoid food going to waste as it rolls out a new national food redistribution scheme.
Called Co-op Food Share, the scheme will see products removed from shelves earlier so that fresh food items can get to charities and groups within their use-by dates.
The retailer will donate fresh food, as well as products such as bakery items, within use-by and best-before dates to small community groups across the country. Groups will be able to collect food regularly from multiple stores and with flexible collection times.
Co-op chief executive Steve Murrells said: “We’re calling time on food waste and will take products off sale earlier to get fresh food with its use-by date to charities in time for them to cook or freeze. At the Co-op we want to strengthen and support communities and we are committed to tacking food waste and ensuring food gets into the hands of those who need it most.”
Never Miss a Retail Update!The scheme’s roll out will have a phased timetable throughout 2018 in the 1,500 places where the retailer has stores. It follows a successful trial at 50 Co-op branches.
