Morrisons has pledged to distribute £10m worth of products to food banks around the UK that are struggling during the coronavirus crisis.
It is estimated that the coronavirus outbreak has led to a 40% reduction in donations to food banks, just when most are seeing increased demand for their services. These organisations are also short of help as a large number of their volunteers are typically older people that have been advised to stay at home.
To help restock food banks, Morrisons is ramping up production at its own manufacturing sites and bolstering deliveries of essential items from its stores.
The retailer’s Chief Executive David Potts said: “As a food maker and shopkeeper we are uniquely placed to help. We know food banks are finding life very difficult and running our manufacturing sites for an extra hour each day to help restock them is the right decision at this time.”
Meanwhile, supermarkets and caterers will start delivering food to vulnerable people this week after the government shared the lists of names to allow firms to make contact with individuals.
Wholesalers Bidfood and Brakes will drop off free food boxes to the 1.5m people that have been advised not to leave their homes because of pre-existing conditions that make them especially vulnerable to the coronavirus. Both firms have been sitting on extra produce after the government ordered restaurants and pubs to shut.
NAM Implications:
- Having explored other options…
- …a pointer for every (perishable) food producer/processor.
- Whilst ‘eaten bread may be forgotten’…
- …consumer memories of generosity may linger.
