UK Grocer Asda Will Cut Down on Food Waste by Sending Surplus Food Stock to Charity

Asda, a supermarket chain in Britain, has recently announced a pledge worth millions of pounds to donate surplus food stock to one of the biggest existing food banks in the United Kingdom. Asda is going to give away millions of left over chilled stock to charity in a plan that aims to save more than 1,600 tons in annual food waste. The United Kingdom produces around 7.9 million tons of food waste every year. The UK grocer is partnering with FareShare, a charity organization which will ensure that the food surplus from the supermarket chain will be given to the needy.

Food for the hungry

FareShare has recently reported that it provides meals to around 44,000 people every day. An increase of 41% on the amount of food distributed by the charity is expected with this innovative partnership with Asda. More than 1,500 tons of food will be made available to 910 charity organizations in the United Kingdom for distribution to millions of beneficiaries.

Other major UK grocery chains Tesco and Waitrose have openly acknowledged the need to reduce the amount of food waste. Asda’s announcement of this initiative comes at the wake of the declarations from the two other top UK supermarkets. Asda’s suppliers are automatically part of the new scheme.

A solution to the problem of food waste

Asda’s Chief Merchandising Officer for Food Barry William said that the partnership with FareShare is targeting two important challenges facing the United Kingdom. First of all is food poverty, which according to William is only getting worse. This new project with FareShare enables Asda to feed millions of people in the country who are homeless and vulnerable to hunger. Secondly, the project could inspire other retailers to find an alternative means of redistributing food such as giving them to those that have need for it. But he also acknowledged the fact that more needs to be done to solve these prevailing issues.

Chilled surplus re-directed

FareShare will be accepting chilled surplus such as fruit juice and yoghurt from Asda. Like most supermarkets, Asda tends to have surplus stock when suppliers send more than their need of specific products. Since the products are still owned by the supplier, the supermarket sends them back because it cannot sell them to customers. By the time they reach their destination the food is spoiled, out of date and often end up in landfills.

Now, Asda is changing the way by which it manages surplus food stock. Instead of its usual practice, “overs” will be donated to FareShare rather then returned to suppliers. With this move, Asda is expecting to contribute 3.6 million meals this year, providing 10,000 free meals each day. Meanwhile, FareShare will not need to buy food anymore and therefore save US$6.9 million in one year.

Urgent need: food for the needy

The CEO of FareShare, Lindsay Boswell revealed that in the history of FareShare, more people are relying on charity organizations for food now more than ever. This partnership with Asda will give FareShare better capability to provide for more people when the need is imminent and urgent.

Photo Credit: ASDA supermarket in Keighley, West Yorkshire