One of the country’s biggest supermarkets Lidl, has said it will begin donating its surplus food to a number Cork charities.
The German which ha 19 stores throughout Co Cork confirmed its new initiative which will see them form a partnership with the Little Island-based Bia Food Initiative. Under new scheme it is believed the supermarket giant will donate surplus food to some 55 charities that work with those affected by food poverty. Lidl also say they will provide a refrigerated van to transport food, with volunteers from Bia Food running the service.
The news of Lidl’s new charity initiative was welcomed by the company’s communications manager Caitriona McCarry, who said Lidl is ādelightedā to start the much needed campaign in Co Cork. Ms McCarry told reporters: āBy supplying the chilled van to Bia Food, we are able to donate food that is perfectly edible, but may not meet the requirements for sale, and bring it directly from the store to those most in need. We were the first retailer in Ireland to establish such a structured food donation programme in Dublin, with Crosscare, and it is a fantastic result to now see this established in Cork.ā