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.”
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.
