Generous Tesco customers donate an incredible 5.1 million meals to feed people in need

17 July 2014

Generous Tesco customers have donated an incredible 5.1 million meals for people in need. The total was calculated following the Neighbourhood Food Collection which took place in every store across the UK between 3-5 July.

Generous Tesco customers have donated an incredible 5.1 million meals for people in need. The total was calculated following the Neighbourhood Food Collection which took place in every store across the UK between 3-5 July.

The latest Neighbourhood Food Collection was held between in partnership with foodbanks charity, the Trussell Trust and food redistribution charity, FareShare.

It takes the nationwide total of meals provided since January 2014 to 5.1 million meals which means the total since the campaign began in December 2012 has hit 15.3 million meals. This figure includes 30% top-up from Tesco, as well as donations from permanent and local collections, plus surplus food provision.

The food collected will benefit those living in food poverty, many of whom struggle during the summer months. Often low-income families, who normally receive free school meals, have to find ways to make their budgets stretch to afford extra meals for their children.

During the collection, customers were asked to donate non-perishable food items such as long-life milk, cereals and tinned vegetables and fruit. Volunteers from the Trussell Trust, FareShare, Rotary Club and the British Red Cross joined Tesco colleagues in store to collect donations from kind-hearted customers.

The food, weighing in at 2,135 tonnes is being transported to regional FareShare depots and local Trussell Trust foodbanks across the country to help people in times of need this summer.

The support for the Neighbourhood Food Collection reached astonishing levels across the UK but customers at Park Road Extra in Liverpool once again proved to be the most generous. The store collected an incredible 16,189 meals, including Tesco’s 30 per cent top up.

Tracey Clements, Community and Customer Experience Director for Tesco said:

“It’s great news that our latest Neighbourhood Food Collection has seen more than five million meals donated to help people in need. The response from our customers, colleagues and volunteers has been incredible and I’d like to thank everyone for their help in reaching this fantastic total.

“Our dedication to the cause does not stop here, and we hope that our next collection at the end of the year will be even bigger.”

Lindsay Boswell, CEO of FareShare said:

“Once again, we have been completely blown away by the generosity of the Great British public – generosity that will allow us to keep helping the most vulnerable people in society. We are incredibly grateful to Tesco and their customers as we will now be able to provide the 1,290 charities we support with more of the food they need.”

David McAuley, Chief Executive, Trussell Trust, said:

“Thanks to the incredible generosity of Tesco and their shoppers, Trussell Trust foodbanks across the UK will be able to stop many more families from facing hunger over the school holidays. Not only will foodbanks continue to provide a lifeline to people in poverty, but many will also be able to  run additional services like lunch clubs to help families who will struggle during the summer break.

“When you meet a mum who is totally overwhelmed at receiving a food parcel because it means she won’t have to go without food again that night, it brings home how tough life is for many living on the breadline. It also shows how vital it is that we stand together as communities to help. We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who’s given food, time or funds at Tesco; your support makes a big difference.”

In addition to the Neighbourhood Food Collection, Tesco will continue to support FareShare and the Trussell Trust with the roll out of more permanent collection points in large stores later this year and will continue to top up all donations by 30 per cent.