Marks and Spencer today unveiled a major new initiative to cut down on food waste at its stores.
The high street retailer has set a target of 2025 to eliminate the problem by having all edible surplus food from its shops and direct food suppliers redistributed to charities.
In a project announced today it will give grants to food redistribution charities to fund fridges and cool bags to ensure they can take fresh and chilled food to people who need it.
Social platform Neighbourly will be working closer with communities to find projects and causes that can take food.
The supermarket aims to provide 30,000 meals to the homeless and people living in poverty in 10 pilot areas, including Newham.
Lessons learned will then be rolled out across the UK to reduce food wasted in its supply chain. There is also a plan to halve the amount of food being wasted originally in store by 2025.
They also plan to work with shoppers to ensure food is also not wasted in the home.
Steve Rowe, chief executive of Marks and Spencer, told the Standard: “In too many places in the UK poverty is a real issue and we want to make sure people get support.
“We want schemes that are meaningful and substantial. We want to create a legacy to really improve communities.”
Carmel McQuaid, head of sustainable business at the chain said: “We will be working even closer with food distribution charities, and linking up with councils and other organisations to really push the boundaries and learn how we can reach the target of eliminating food wastage.”
The initiative is part of a reboot of its “Plan A” project to make the business more sustainable.
