Ayrshire charities and community groups are being encouraged to sign up to Aldi's surplus food donation scheme, which has already donated more than 8.8 million meals this year. The supermarket giant expects a further one million meals to be redistributed during the summer holidays, when demand for food support can increase.
How the Scheme Works
Working with community giving platform Neighbourly, Aldi redistributes surplus food from its stores to charities and community groups across the UK. Participating groups can collect food nearing its use-by date from their local Aldi store, helping reduce food waste while supporting people in need.
Quotes from Aldi and Neighbourly
Luke Emery, National Sustainability Director at Aldi UK, said: “No good food should go to waste, especially when so many families need extra support during the school holidays. Through our partnership with Neighbourly, we’re helping charities access surplus food from Aldi stores and get it to the people who need it most. With more than one million meals expected to be donated over the school holidays, we want to make sure every available collection slot is used to support communities across the UK.”
Steve Butterworth, Chief Executive Officer at Neighbourly, added: “The school holidays can be a tough time for many families, and local charities are often a vital lifeline. We know there are still groups out there that could really benefit from regular food donations, so we’d encourage them to get in touch and find out more about the scheme.”
How to Register
Any charity or community group in Ayrshire not already working with Neighbourly can register its interest at neighbourly.com. Customers can also donate food and household essentials year-round through community donation points available in every Aldi store.
Additional Partnerships
In addition to its long-term partnership with Neighbourly, Aldi has worked with Company Shop since 2022 to manage surplus stock from its Regional Distribution Centres. The partnership sees surplus items sold at discounted prices to members throughout the year, helping reduce waste and improve access to everyday essentials.
