Tesco unveils latest initiative to tackle food waste

The partnership follows a successful six month trial, which was held earlier this year, at 250 Tesco stores that had the most food surplus and which saw a high rate of pick up.

It resulted in: nearly 195,000 portions of food being saved, almost 4,200 people being fed, and the equivalent of 93,000 meals being saved.

The scheme works with the help of Olio’s more than 8,000 local volunteer ‘Food Waste Heroes’ who visit Tesco stores to collect surplus food nearing its sell-by date. The food is taken back to their homes, with the items immediately uploaded onto the Olio app, ready to be re-distributed free to those living nearby, as well as to community groups. Olio app users can then pick items up, from an agreed, contact-free collection point. The ‘Food Waste Heroes’ are allowed to keep 10% of what they collect from stores.

Tesco head of communities, Claire De Silva, said: “Right now we want to make sure that any surplus food is being managed and people who need it have access to it.

“The results of our initial trial were very positive and have allowed us to further roll out the partnership in our commitment to make sure no good food goes to waste.”

Olio co-founder, Tessa Clarke, added: “Our partnership with Tesco means that more people than ever before will be able to benefit from access to surplus food.

“They’ll also be joining our community of neighbours who not only support one another, but also believe that every little counts in the fight against food waste.”