Marks and Spencer and its partner, Neighbourly are calling for residents and businesses in Windsor, and all its branches nationwide to participate in their food redistribution scheme, in which surplus food is donated to charities and people in need.
With the help of Neighbourly, an award winning platform that helps businesses make a positive impact in their communities, Marks and Spencers can “donate everyday items like cleaning and laundry products, personal care items, pet food, batteries and plant pots”. Furthermore, M and S states that they are the first major retailer to provide live updates on the number of tonnes of surplus redistributed. Since March 1st 2020, M and S Windsor has managed to donate 6,000 meals to local charity groups such as the community café Amana’s Journey CIC in Slough, community support group West Windsor Hub and homeless charity Driven Forward.
In an interview with store manager Nick Williams, he explained that “M&S is extremely proud of its food redistribution programme with Neighbourly that helps provide meals for those in need in our local communities. Ultimately, we want surplus food to end up on someone’s plate, and to help achieve that we are always looking for more charities to come forward to partner with our stores.”
This innovative food redistribution scheme has donated in total, more than 5 million meals across the UK since 1st March and, since 2015, M&S stores have supported over 2,100 local charities and community groups nationwide, from food banks to youth clubs and hospices, donating 17.8 million meals to those in need.
In response to Covid-19, M&S and Neighbourly launched a new colleague app earlier this year to help revolutionise how M and S stores donate surplus food to local charities.
“The new technology, which is in all 585 M&S stores across the UK, records when M&S colleagues reduce the price of food that is close to its Use-By or Best Before date, and then monitors if those products are sold at the tills. The app automatically notifies charity partners of anything unsold at the end of the day that can be collected from their local store. It also allows stores to donate products where the packaging is damaged, but the food inside is safe and good quality. The new app, which sends alerts via email and SMS, has significantly increased the notifications reaching the charities in a bid to increase the redistribution of surplus food and prevent food waste.”
Charity and community groups based in Windsor who would like to get involved in the food surplus programme or other charity initiatives are encouraged to email mandsfood@neighbourly.com to find out more.”
