Tesco Christmas

Last year more than 3.34 million meals were donated by Tesco customers

Tesco has launched its latest national Food Collection scheme in a move to help people in food poverty over Christmas.

From today more than 2,600 Tesco stores across the UK are taking part in the project to encourage shoppers to donate long-life foods to help charities FareShare and The Trussell Trust’s foodbank network.

Donated food is passed on in emergency food parcels to people referred to The Trussell Trust’s network because they cannot afford to feed themselves and their families.

Food donated to FareShare is distributed to charities and community groups who use it to provide meals for vulnerable groups such as isolated older people and those in homeless shelters.

Range preview: Tesco Christmas 2018

It is the 11th time Tesco has run the project and, as on previous occasions, the business will top up the value of donated food by 20%, providing additional funds to support the charities over Christmas.

Volunteers in store will greet customers with a list of items most needed by the charities, with shoppers encouraged to pick up items to donate at the end of their shop.

Last year more than 3.34 million meals were donated by Tesco customers.

“Tesco Food Collection scheme is the UK’s biggest Christmas food collection, and at Tesco we are glad to be playing our part in helping people in need this Christmas,” said Tesco UK & Ireland CEO Jason Tarry.

“We know the items our customers donate can make a real difference to people who really need that little bit of extra help this year - whether it is a food parcel for someone at a time of crisis, or a hot meal which means a vulnerable person does not feel lonely this Christmas.

“Once again, we are topping up all the customer donations by a further 20%, and I’d encourage our customers to put something extra in their baskets to donate.”