Morrisons seeks to put an end to food wastage

British supermarket chain Morrisons has planned to roll out an initiative that aims to end wastage of edible food in 500 of its outlets.

It will donate unsold food that’s still safe for consumption, which would otherwise get wasted during the week, to local community organisations across the UK. The food stuff will include fresh fruit and vegetables as well as products in tins and packets.

“We don’t like the idea of good food going to waste. This programme will ensure that we find a home for the small amount of unsold or used food in our stores,” says Morrisons’ group corporate services director Andrew Clappen.

Morrisons has already reduced the level of edible waste through measures such as discounting food before it can no longer be sold or used in its staff canteens. The small percentage of edible food in Morrisons stores that is wasted is currently used to produce energy rather than going to landfill. The new initiative will ensure it gets eaten.

It follows a trial in over 100 stores in Yorkshire and the North East that will be extended to all stores during the early part of 2016, also involving building a network of community organisations that can make use of the food.