Iceland and food-sharing app Olio have redistributed more than 10 million meals’ worth of surplus food, since launching their redistribution partnership in 2022.

Surplus food from more than 1,000 Iceland and The Food Warehouse stores have reached over 165,000 households, through Olio’s Food Waste Hero programme.

The collaboration said such an achievement was a credit to Olio’s 45,000 volunteers, known as Food Waste Heroes. They collect surplus food from stores and redistribute it within their local communities.

Stuart Lendrum, director of product, process and sustainability at Iceland Foods, said: “Reaching 10 million meals redistributed with Olio is a fantastic milestone and demonstrates the impact that can be achieved when businesses and communities work together to make sure good food is eaten, not wasted.

“We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved through this partnership over the past four years, helping surplus food reach local households while supporting our commitment to doing the right thing for customers, communities and the planet.”

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Iceland also marked the first anniversary of its national reduced food initiative with Olio, which is designed to help shoppers find discounted groceries while cutting food waste.

The rollout, launched in partnership with Gander after trials in Bristol and London, allows Iceland’s yellow sticker reductions to be displayed on the Olio app. This has given its five million UK users visibility of reduced-price groceries available at nearby stores.

More than 47 million Iceland reduced food listings have been added to Olio since the launch, with each listing receiving an average of 23 unique impressions. The retailer said the partnership has helped customers manage grocery costs while supporting its wider efforts to reduce food waste.

Saasha Celestial-One, COO and co-founder of Olio, added: “It’s incredible to see that, through Iceland’s commitment to reducing food waste and the dedication of 45,000 Food Waste Heroes, we’ve been able to share 10 million meals with local households, instead of that food going to waste.

“Retailers have a crucial role to play in building a more sustainable food system, and we’re proud to partner with organisations like Iceland that are leading the way. Together, we’ve shown how technology and community action can deliver real impact for people and the planet. Here’s to the next 10 million meals.”

Customers can download the Olio app to find free and discounted items at local Iceland stores, and receive alerts about fresh reductions in their area.