Waitrose boosts FareShare partnership with funds and volunteers
Waitrose is extending its FareShare trial to a total of 25 branches this month as it looks to give local groups access to surplus food.
In addition, it has announced that it will make funds and staff volunteers available to groups involved in the scheme.
In a supermarket first, groups which collect surplus food will be offered funds from the Waitrose Community Matters scheme which donates money to local good causes, as well as volunteers from its shops.
Through the partnership, FareShare will help organisations make the most of Waitrose money and volunteers. Waitrose said this could include funds to buy kitchen equipment or storage, or volunteers to help serve food.
Since launching the trial in March in three shops, an equivalent of 4250 meals have been donated to 12 charities.
Laura Strangeway, sustainability manager, said: “’In the five years we’ve been donating surplus food prior to these trials, we’ve found one of the main challenges is letting local charities know what food we have available for them to collect and when. And, with many local groups being very small, they can have limited resources to make the most of the food donations we can offer. The ease of FareShare – coupled with the additional equipment and manpower we’re offering – should make it much easier for groups to help many more people in the local community.”
