Asda donates 500,000 meals to north east hunger charities and groups | News

Asda has donated the equivalent of 500,000 meals to charities and community groups across the north east, to support people in hunger.

The supermarket, in partnership with food redistribution charity FareShare, donated the food directly to charities and community groups from its back-of-store donation scheme.

Asda supermarkets and superstores have been donating food via FareShare Go, with over eight million meals donated this year alone.

The donations include non-chilled fruit, vegetables and eggs, as well as dented tins and bread products that can no longer to be sold in store but are still edible.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on charities and the people who rely on them,” said Asda zero waste senior manager Karen Todd.

“We are delighted to help in any way we can and will continue to look at ways we can support people in our local communities,” she added. “The scheme also means we are minimising food waste which, as a company, we are passionate about eradicating.”

Alyson Walsh, commercial director at FareShare, added: “We’re incredibly grateful to Asda for their continued efforts in redistributing surplus food that has become available in their stores – especially during what has been such a tough time for so many.

“Being able to source good-to-eat, free surplus food from retailers through FareShare Go provides thousands of vulnerable people with much-needed food that they otherwise wouldn’t have access to.”