Booker rolls out food redistribution scheme to branches nationwide
Booker has joined forces with the charity FareShare and free sharing app OLIO to redistribute its surplus food to vulnerable people across the UK.
Following a successful trial period with FareShare that was launched in 11 of its branches and two distribution centres in January 2021, Booker will continue to roll out the food redistribution scheme to its branches nationwide.
Through the FareShare Go programme, Booker sites are matched with charities and community groups in the local area that collect the items and turn them into food parcels or hot meals for the people they support.
FareShare organisations will make the majority of collections from Booker sites, typically five days out of the week, while OLIO Food Waste Heroes are lined up to collect on days when the charities cannot, and then this food will be added to the OLIO app for people in the local area to collect.
Catherine Marston, sustainability manager at Booker, commented: “We are really pleased to be partnering with FareShare and OLIO. Over the past year we have donated the equivalent of over six million meals to local charities and good causes and this will really help us build upon this success.
“We are proud to be the only wholesaler to have achieved four Carbon Trust Standards in carbon emissions, waste, water and zero waste to landfill, and are the only wholesaler to hold the Carbon Trust Standard for 12 years. We have got off to a tremendous start and the whole Booker team is looking forward to rolling this out to our entire estate.”
Lindsay Boswell, chief executive of FareShare, added: “We are delighted to be working with Booker to help redistribute its surplus food to our network of charities. We received wonderful feedback from the teams that took part in the trial and we’re thrilled that we’re now able to support Booker to get even more food to people in need across the country.
“Demand for FareShare food has more than doubled since the start of the pandemic, and we are delivering upwards of two million meals per week to those in need, so this food is needed now more than ever.”
Tessa Clarke, co-founder and CEO at OLIO, said: “Working with Booker and FareShare on this project is really exciting. We’re incredibly grateful to both them and our Food Waste Heroes who will be collecting the surplus food and ensuring it reaches the local community. Schemes like this are instrumental in helping tackle food wastage across our communities so we are very proud to be involved.”
Tel: Booker (01933) 371000
