Morrisons group corporate services director Martyn Jones said: “Our colleagues work hard to minimise waste every day and we know that our customers really care about this.

“Our partnership with FoodCycle will allow us to find a good home for the small amount of unsold or used food in stores and support FoodCycle’s great work in the community.”

Ongoing issue

FoodCycle will benefit from back-of-store donations through the new partnership with the supermarket. The food charity cooks free, three-course meals at volunteer-run community hubs across the UK, supporting vulnerable people who are living in food poverty and at risk of isolation.

FoodCycle CEO Mary McGrath said: “It is fantastic that Morrisons is partnering with FoodCycle. The staff involved have been brilliant, committed to seeing perfectly fresh and tasty food go to good use.”

McGrath added the new partnership would allow FoodCycle to expand its hub projects: “With food poverty on the rise and the problem of food waste an ongoing issue, we know the need for FoodCycle exists more than ever.”

FoodCycle projects have reclaimed more than 130,000kg of surplus food in the last five years. The new partnership aims to save food waste and connect people in local communities through food sharing.

The announcement comes in the same day that rival supermarket chain Asda revealed the results of its Green Britain Index – a survey of 20,000 shoppers – which found that 92% admitted to throwing away food. 

edie 2014/15 timeline: Supermarket food waste:

With food waste rapidly rising up the agenda of supermarkets across the UK, use edie’s timeline to catch up on the latest developments…

Matt Field

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