Budget supermarket, Aldi is launching a new feature that shoppers - not only from Aldi - but also from Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Waitrose and Lidl can use.
Starting in October, the new feature will be rolled out across stores all over the UK to help those in of support.
Stores will feature a donation box next to the packing benches for shoppers who want to donate any food or household product -no matter where they are originally bought from.
Long-life food like grains and tinned goods will be appreciated as well as non-food items such as toiletries and cleaning products.
The supermarket has released a list of the items that are most in demand to help guide customers.
All donations will be distributed to local charities, foodbanks and community groups that are part of the surplus food donation scheme on selected days via community giving platform Neighbourly.
The new initiative follows Aldi’s commitment to donate 10 million meals across the country in 2021, with the supermarket already working with Neighbourly to donate surplus food from stores each day.
Recently, Aldi donated over one million meals to charities, community groups and foodbanks over the school summer holidays.
Mary Dunn, Managing Director of Corporate Responsibility at Aldi UK, said: “This year, we are committed to donating more meals to those in need than ever before, and we know that our customers want to help too.
“This is why we are working with Neighbourly to extend our current donations scheme, making it easy for customers to donate food and essential supplies to those in need year-round.”
Steve Butterworth, from Neighbourly, added: “Customer donations can help make a real difference, and I’d encourage anyone who is able to get involved to do so. The list of most-needed items should help guide customers when deciding what to donate; however anything people can contribute will be a massive help.”
Top 25 most in-demand items
- Coffee
- Cereal
- Fruit juice
- Tinned meat
- Pasta/cooking sauce
- Tea
- Tinned fruit
- UHT milk
- Tinned tomatoes
- Tinned vegetables
- Rice
- Pasta
- Biscuits
- Tinned desserts
- Soup
- Lentils, beans, pulses
- Baby food
- Toilet paper
- Toiletries
- Laundry powders / detergents
- Cleaning products
- Feminine / sanitary items
- Dish washing liquid / tablets
- Nappies and baby wipes
- Pet food
