Aldi is to donate a million meals to charity over the summer holidays, after warnings of record demand.
Around 70 per cent of the meals will go to causes that help children.
The discounter’s pledge is part of a wider commitment to feed 10 million hungry Britons this year.
“The school holidays can be a hard time for families, particularly when many are experiencing heightened financial hardship due to the pandemic,” Aldi managing director Mary Dunn said.
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“This is why we are committed to doing what we can to donate more meals than ever before.”
Food banks tend to be used more outside term time when families cannot rely on free school meals.
Steve Butterworth, head of community platform Neighbourly, believes that food charities will be “even busier” this summer.
On Monday, Tesco launched a scheme that it claimed would provide food for three million children.
The Big 4 grocer will donate an unspecified amount from fruit and vegetable sales to food charity FareShare until August 8.
The news comes after ministers were accused of “stripping away” support from vulnerable families through a school meal policy.
According to the Labour party, the government is providing food for just 16 of the summer break’s 30 weekdays.
“Feeding hungry children cannot be a part-time activity,” warned shadow children minister Tulip Siddiq.
A number of councils have said they will make up the shortfall with extra meal vouchers.
