Aldi is supporting local charities, foodbanks, and community groups across the UK through its Emergency Winter Foodbank Fund this Christmas.
The fund will see the discounter donate £250,000 to help organisations as they prepare to face heightened demand for their services.
The initiative builds on Aldi’s partnership with community engagement platform Neighbourly, which enables all of the retailer’s 980 stores in the UK to donate surplus food all year round.
Aldi will also be introducing new signage in stores this Christmas to help highlight to customers the most in demand items at foodbanks, as selected by the organisations themselves.
From early December, shoppers looking to donate to foodbanks can look out for the logo on shelves by certain items, such as baked beans, teabags, and toiletries, which can then be dropped at the food donation points located by Aldi’s checkouts.
Liz Fox, Corporate Responsibility Director at Aldi UK, said: “We know that Christmas is already a particularly challenging time for many, but this year is understandably going to be even tougher for a lot of households.
“That’s why we’re more committed than ever to doing what we can to give back. We want to make food accessible for all and hope both our additional funding and donation drive will help to make a real difference.”
Steve Butterworth, CEO of Neighbourly, added: “The cost-of-living is impacting communities up and down the country and the charities we support are expecting to see demand increase even further over the coming months.
“Without the support of the public and businesses like Aldi we’d be unable to help those in need. Within our network there are many charities and community groups that will be able to put this funding to good use, to support families that are struggling.”
