Supermarket Tesco has said that it will roll out nationwide a programme to ensure waste food that can be eaten is given to charities.
Over 800 large stores will roll out the programme by the end of 2016, with the rest covered by the end of 2017.
Surplus food will be distributed by Community Food Connection, which is powered by FareShare FoodCloud and enables stores and charities to work together.
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Tesco chief executive Dave Lewis (pictured) said: “We believe no food that could be eaten should be wasted – that’s why we have committed that no surplus food should go to waste from our stores.
“We know it’s an issue our customers really care about, and wherever there’s surplus food at Tesco stores, we’re committed to donating it to local charities so we can help feed people in need.
“But we know the challenge is bigger than this and that’s why we’ve made a farm to fork commitment to reduce food waste upstream with our suppliers and in our own operations and downstream in our customers’ own homes.”
The scheme has already been piloted in fourteen Tesco stores over the past six months and has generated over 22 tonnes of food, which is equivalent to 50,000 meals.
