ASDA extends its FareShare network to manufacturers

UK supermarket chain ASDA has announced plans to extend its distribution of surplus food with charity FareShare to include its manufacturing suppliers.

FareShare hopes that the new initiative will result in the diversion of an extra 2,600 tonnes of surplus fresh food that would otherwise become waste. This translates to six million more meals for those in need based on 40 suppliers signing up to work with FareShare.

The supermarket will also help with the £200,000 cost of the transport required to distribute the food to FareShare’s 1,700 charities.

ASDA chief merchandising officer for food Barry Williams said, “It’s unacceptable that anyone is experiencing food poverty in this country. We’re therefore immensely proud that through our FareShare initiative, ASDA has so far managed to provide over two million meals for people who are in dire need.

“But we recognise there’s still more for us to do, and by creating a way for manufacturers to send their food waste into our network; we can help FareShare supply up to six million more meals.

“It’s important that we’re not fighting this battle on our own and we urge other retailers to follow our lead and help make food poverty in the UK a thing of the past.”