Aldi stores support local charities with FoodCloud

CHARITIES in Bandon, Dunmanway, Skibbereen and Macroom are now receiving free food donations from their local Aldi store as part of the company’s expanded partnership with FoodCloud. 

Surplus food from Aldi’s Bandon, Dunmanway, Skibbereen and Macroom stores is being redistributed to charities and community groups including Bandon Men’s Shed, Dunmanway Family Resource Centre and Macroom Youthreach daily through FoodCloud, the not-for-profit social enterprise founded by Iseult Ward and Aoibheann O’Brien.

FoodCloud offers a way for businesses to donate surplus food that is fit for human consumption but which cannot be sold for a variety of reasons to charities within their communities. By using an app a business can upload details of their surplus food and the time period in which the food can be collected. 

A text message is sent automatically to charities in the community and the first charity to accept the offer collects it directly from the business.This week Aldi reached the significant milestone of donating 1,000,000 meals to charities through FoodCloud since the partnership began in 2014.  This equates to a saving of almost €1.5m for the charity partners involved.

Finbar McCarthy, Aldi’s group buying director said: ‘We are always looking at ways to innovate on behalf of customers. Our research tells us that 87% of people prefer to shop with a retailer that redistributes its unsold food to those in need. We also know that many of our customers want options to help reduce their own household waste, and we’re responding to meet those needs. 

‘We have already introduced smaller pack sizes and made perishables, like bananas, apples, oranges and avocados available for individual sale. Also, instead of stocking multi-buy offers which inevitably lead to waste, we focus on providing what our customers really want – everyday amazing prices on fresh and quality produce throughout our stores.’

FoodCloud co-founder Iseult Ward added: ‘While consumer awareness of the issue is growing, consumer behaviour still needs to change. In Ireland alone we generate over one million tonnes of food waste annually while one in eight people are experiencing food poverty.’

 Charity groups and community groups can register for the service at  food.cloud