Our approach
As a responsible retailer, we’ve worked hard to develop policies that benefit both our customers and the environment whilst combatting the issue of food waste throughout our supply chain and in-store. We’ve launched initiatives to tackle food waste all the way from farms and suppliers right to our customers’ kitchens and dining rooms.
Our approach to addressing food waste across the value chain:
Upstream
We are working with our suppliers to encourage them to sign up to waste reduction targets and commitments. We are using deep dive projects in high food waste areas to extract learnings and apply to other value chains. We have clear policies and guidance in place to ensure the redistribution of surplus food and are continually reviewing shelf-life extensions to products wherever possible including packaging and best before dates.
Own Operations
In 1998, we launched our Food Donation Programme, where stores partner with local organisations operating both Front of Store (customers donations into donation points in stores) and Back of Store (donating surplus stock to local organisations) programmes. We want to improve the volume of surplus food we redistribute by expanding our range of products that can be redistributed to both animals and humans, as well as trialling initiatives and testing tech solutions to redistribute our surplus food.
We have a partnership with Neighbourly which we rolled out to all supermarkets in 2021. Neighbourly helps us manage our back of store food donation programme, connecting our stores to a network of over 17,000 charities, schools and community groups. This partnership ensures both the social and environmental investments already made in food production are not wasted and that any surplus food gets redirected to people who need it most.
More on Neighbourly
Downstream
We are working to update our product labelling in line with best practice to reduce food waste at home, including storage instructions and best before dates on select products. Click here for some of our leftover recipe ideas. We are also utilising customer campaigns aimed at educating customers on food waste and changing behaviours, and supporting nationwide events such as Food Waste Action Week.