London, May 31, 2023 – Iceland Foods, a prominent supermarket chain, has achieved a significant milestone by redistributing the equivalent of 5.5 million meals to local communities since January 2022. This achievement surpasses the company’s original goal of sharing three million meals by the end of its financial year, which concluded in March, according to Iceland Foods.
“At Iceland Foods, we are dedicated to combating food waste and providing meals to those in our community who need them most,” stated Richard Walker, Executive Chairman of Iceland Foods. “Reaching the milestone of redistributing 5.5 million meals is a remarkable accomplishment, and we remain committed to reducing food poverty in the UK while simultaneously curbing wastage that harms the environment. We extend our gratitude to Olio, our partners, and our store colleagues for their invaluable support in our mission to ‘Do It Right.'”
As part of its commitment to minimizing food waste, Iceland Foods has made a pledge to never send unsold food to landfill when alternative options are available. Instead, any food that cannot be consumed is directed towards animal feed or anaerobic digestion.
Of the 5.5 million meals redistributed, nearly 1.5 million were facilitated through Iceland Foods’ partnership with the food redistribution platform Olio, which was launched in Iceland and Food Warehouse stores in July 2022. This equates to approximately 2,635 tonnes of food that would have otherwise gone to waste, the supermarket revealed.
“On behalf of the entire Olio team, I would like to congratulate Iceland on this fantastic achievement. We are immensely proud to have played a role in rescuing such a significant amount of food,” commented Tessa Clarke, co-founder and CEO of Olio. She further acknowledged the tireless efforts of Olio’s network of 85,000 volunteers, who diligently collect food from Iceland stores and share it with members of their local community. Clarke emphasized the importance of businesses taking action, particularly in the midst of both a cost of living crisis and a climate crisis.
In addition to its food redistribution efforts, Iceland Foods recently launched a new campaign to assist parents struggling with food inflation during the half-term period. This initiative aims to alleviate the financial burden faced by families and provide them with essential savings.
As Iceland Foods continues its journey towards sustainability and addressing food poverty, its commitment to responsible practices and community support sets a positive example for the retail industry.