The Asda-owned supplier, IPL, delivered 83 tonnes of surplus food in 2018 through redistribution charity FareShare.
Four IPL sites provided FareShare with a range of surplus fresh produce, weighing the rough equivalent of a space shuttle, including salads, stonefruit, apples, berries, citrus fruits, potatoes, onions and more.
The group’s Westry site alone provided enough surplus food throughout 2018 to make an estimated 197,623 meals for people in need.
FareShare who have partnered IPL since 2011, deliver food to 1,500 towns and cities across the UK through their 21 regional centres, providing for homeless hostels, children’s breakfast clubs, lunch clubs for older people, domestic violence refuges and community cafes.
With support from IPL, Asda announced a new partnership with The Trussell Trust and FareShare last year, that will see donations of over £20 million to the charities to develop their infrastructure and services for collection and distribution.
IPL’s sustainability manager, Kellie Schofield, said: “Around one in five people in the UK are living in poverty. That’s 14.3 million people whose options are restricted by their circumstances. 4.4 million tonnes of food is wasted in the UK each year. This needs to stop.
“Here at IPL we have a social and environmental responsibility to make sure that any surplus food that is still fit to eat is diverted to those in our communities who cannot afford it. In 2018, we diverted 83 tonnes of produce to vulnerable people – a fantastic achievement.
“Next year we’ll be working with our UK growers to share the success of our relationship with FareShare and encourage them to adopt the redistribution process. We’ll also be encouraging IPL colleagues to volunteer at FareShare depots across the UK and offer their support!”
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