On Friday 24th March, Jo Churchill MP joined Tesco Stowmarket to champion their commitment to the Tesco Fair Share Community Food Connection project. The project links stores to local charities and community groups, working together to ensure that no good food goes to waste. By uploading estimates of unsold, good quality food to the FareShare FoodCloud app, local charities and community groups are notified and may receive food available to those who most need it.
Speaking at the store, Jo Churchill MP said: “For the past six months, this store has donated six out of seven week day meals to five different local charities…
The Stowmarket in-store team is very engaged and excited about the scheme and without their brilliant input it would not work as well as it does- so a very big thank you to them. I would also like to thank the charities here today for their association with the scheme. Without all of you, none of this would be possible.”
Speaking after her visit, Jo Churchill MP said: “I wholeheartedly share in the aims and ambitions of this scheme to ensure that ‘no good food goes to waste’.
Using modern technology to join up Tesco with local organisations, shows just how simple the task of minimising waste, really is. Whilst many people in their homes already think carefully about their food usage, it is great to see familiar providers taking a lead in redistributing unsold food, and putting it to good use.
Based on the contributions of this scheme already, I understand Tesco is planning to expand participation, currently involved 26 stores supporting over 100 charities, to over 800 stores countrywide.
The redistribution of good, unused food is something I feel very strongly about. Therefore lending my support to this scheme, I hope will encourage others to get involved and drive a commitment to maximising the food we grow and import, as well as sharing the good food we may otherwise throw away.”