Waitrose to donate surplus food to UK charities

Waitrose is making a new commitment to enable all of its branches to donate surplus food to charities across the UK by the end of 2012.

This will be its preferred route for any unsold food that is still fit for consumption and will help the retailer achieve its goal of diverting 100% of its food waste from landfill by the end of this year.

It builds on its commitment to Tristram Stuart's campaign, 'Feeding the 5000', which Waitrose is signed up to.

This new initiative will make it easier for all Waitrose branches to get involved, by setting up relationships with regional and national food distribution organisations who will give out food to local charities and organisations on the supermarket's behalf.

June Ross-Wildman, founder of ECE, said: "Our partnership with Waitrose continues to provide a much needed service to our communities across the UK, by donating good surplus food to those that are struggling in this time of austerity. ECE volunteers are committed to supporting retailers in their quest to end food inequality."

Any surplus food from Waitrose shops that is not fit for consumption will continue to be sent to AD plants to be converted into renewable energy and fed back into the national grid.

Source: Waitrose

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