Sainsbury’s has reached a milestone, having donated 10 million meals to those facing food insecurity with its re-distribution partner, Neighbourly.
In collaboration with the giving platform since 2021, Neighbourly has helped to connect all of the Big 4 grocer’s stores with local charity partners, which has helped to better manage surplus food donations.
Through the partnership, amibient and fresh groceries can be donated to a store’s connected charity, helping Sainsbury’s to redistribute products to those facing food poverty in local communities.
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As a result, this has prevented 4,500 tonnes of food from going to waste, a move which has reduced carbon emissions by over 16,000 tonnes.
Through using the Neighbourly platform, Sainsbury’s has also donated food to over 2,500 good causes across the UK.
“We have donated food to charities and community groups since 1998, but our partnership with Neighbourly has really helped us accelerate how many people we can help,” Sainsbury’s director of corporate responsibility and sustainability, Ruth Cranston said.
“We know our partnership is more important than ever with food banks facing more demand than before. Supporting the communities we serve with the rising cost of living is important to us, it’s why we are pleased to hit such a huge milestone of donating 10 million meals.”
Neighbourly CEO, Steve Butterworth said: “Sainsbury’s is genuinely committed to local action and we’re pleased to be accelerating the scheme to help forge strong community collaboration between their stores and charity partners whilst combatting the environmental impact of wasted food.”
He added that the cost-of-living crisis is leaving more families reliant on local communty charities for food and services and as a result, “this scheme is making a huge difference to thousands of local groups and the people they support.”
