AN EXCITING new scheme will see Tesco donating unsold food to charities and community groups in and around Kingsbridge.

The scheme, Fare Share is calling on groups to register today, so that the food can be distributed to vulnerable people in the area.

The unsold food will be free and will include fresh produce, such as fruit, vegetables and bakery products. And chilled products like meat, dairy and ready meals will also be offered.

Fare Share Food Cloud is the result of a unique three-way partnership bringing the charity, social enterprise and commercial sectors together. Fare Share brings its knowledge of the UK charity food redistribution market and its experience of providing food. Food Cloud brings its knowledge of the technology and online applications needed to connect businesses with surplus food. And Tesco brings the people and technology required to deliver a reliable and well-managed programme, and is the first retailer to invest in, and roll out, Fare Share Food Cloud.

Rifka Chakkalakal, community food programmes manager at Tesco said: ‘No food that can be eaten should go to waste. We’re really excited to start working on this initiative to ensure that any unsold food we have is made use of. We are looking forward to forging strong links with local charities and community groups in Kingsbridge, and to use this initiative to support their efforts to help vulnerable people in our community.’

Fare Share Food Cloud is the latest step in Tesco’s work with Fare Share on the provision of surplus food. The partnership spans over three years and includes activities which make food available from the Tesco supply chain, distribution centres and dotcom centres. This has seen more than 16 million meals made up of surplus food donated to over 2,500 charities and community groups across the UK.

Any charities or community groups in Kingsbridge using food to support people that would like to access the scheme, should register their interest by visiting www.fareshare.org.uk/fareshare-foodcloud.