Aldi is to give extra meals to charity this festive season by extending its food donation programme to New Year’s Eve.
The discounter has given unsold fresh and chilled food to charitable causes after shops close on Christmas Eve since 2018. For the first time this year, its 906 stores will do the same on New Year’s Eve.
It will see an extra 200,000 meals donated across the UK, according to Aldi. Charitable causes, which Aldi partners with through the community giving platform Neighbourly, are invited to collect the food after closing time.
Aldi stores already donate surplus through Neighbourly every day.
Over the school holidays, it plans to prioritise groups that help feed children, in another new initiative called ‘Community Cupboard’. The exercise is to be repeated during the February half-term and Easter breaks.
“Access to fresh, affordable food should be a right, not a privilege, which is why we’re doing what we can to help those in need,” said Aldi UK corporate responsibility MD Luke Peech.
“Tackling food poverty is an issue that the country and our store colleagues are really behind, so it’s great to be extending our programme – particularly over the festive period and upcoming school holidays.”
Neighbourly CEO Steve Butterworth said: “Aldi already donates more than 650,000 meals a month across the UK but is stepping this up over Christmas and new year.
“The festive season is usually busy for charities and food banks, but this year even more so, so the donations will definitely be welcomed.”
Last week, Aldi announced it would give £1 to Neighbourly for every fresh turkey it sells in the run-up to Christmas.
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