Aldi has hit a significant milestone, having donated 2.5m meals from its regional distribution centres across the UK.
The move, which has also saved an estimated 1,000 tonnes of food from going to waste, was made in partnership with Company Shop Group.
The social enterprise supports thousands of families in some of the UK’s most deprived communities by offering access to discounted products and reinvesting the revenue raised into community kitchens and hubs.
The discount grocer began working with the surplus food and household product distributor in 2015, however in January 2023, it extended the partnership so that excess stock from its network of distribution centres would be made available to the group’s UK stores.
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In one year, the pair has supported over 2,800 people through its Community Hub development programmes, which provide individuals and communities with skills to get them back into work.
It has also enabled over 2,100 people to attend cooking lessons at the community kitchen cook clubs where they can learn how to prepare nutritious meals on a budget.
Aldi UK national sustainability director Liz Fox said: “It’s incredible to look back at the results we’ve achieved from just one year with Company Shop Group – from saving tonnes of food from going to waste to supporting thousands of families in need.
“We are committed to making good quality food accessible to everyone. After all, it’s a right, not a privilege.
“We’re very excited to see what lies ahead for the partnership as we get closer to our new goal of reducing food waste in our own operations by 90% before 2030.”
