A LOCAL supermarket has donated the equivalent of more than 1,400 meals to charities and community groups in its neighbouring villages through a partnership with a food charity.
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Asda’s Royston store on Midland Road store has been donating food directly to FareShare via its ‘back of store’ food donation scheme, giving away the equivalent of 1,485 meals to help those in need.
Food such as non-chilled fruit, vegetables and eggs, dented tins and bread products which can no longer to be sold in store - but are still edible - are all donated through the scheme.
The products are then collected by charities and distributed, helping vulnerable people and preventing food waste. However, products with a use by date are not donated.
Asda manager Stuart Hough said: “The pandemic has had a huge impact on charities and the people who rely on them.
“We are delighted to be able to help in any way we can and will continue to look at ways we can support those in our local communities.
“The scheme also means we are minimising food waste which, as a company, we are passionate about eradicating.”
Lindsay Boswell, chief executive at FareShare, added: “We’re incredibly thankful to Asda for their continued efforts in redistributing surplus food from stores because this is needed by people now more than ever.
“The coronavirus pandemic has put a strain on a lot of charities and community organisations, with increased demand as more families face financial hardship.”
