Budget supermarket chain is donating £250k to winter foodbank fund

A MAJOR supermarket with stores across Burton and the rest of Staffordshire is supporting foodbanks and community groups within the county through its “Emergency Winter Foodbank Fund” this Christmas.

Aldi’s foodbank scheme will see it donate £250,000 to help organisations as they prepare to face heightened demand on their services during the cost of living crisis.

The fund builds on Aldi’s successful partnership with community engagement platform Neighbourly, which enables all of Aldi’s 980 UK stores to donate surplus food seven days a week, all year round.

Aldi will also be introducing new signage in stores such as Burton’s Horninglow Street site 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 should look out for the logo on shelves by certain items, such as baked beans, teabags and toiletries, which they can buy and then drop off at the food donation points located by Aldi’s check-outs.

Liz Fox, corporate responsibility director at Aldi UK, said: “We know 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 in Staffordshire.”

Steve Butterworth, chief executive 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 which will be able to put this funding to good use.”

Aldi’s latest commitment follows a recent survey of Neighbourly charities which revealed 72 per cent will need more food items to help with increased demand this Christmas.

The items revealed to be most in-demand will be promoted in-store to help drive donations this Christmas, including cereal, rice and pasta, tinned food and toiletries. Aldi is further supporting Neighbourly through its Christmas advert this year, by encouraging viewers who are able to help families in need to donate at aldi. co.uk/neighbourly.

The supermarket has already donated over 27 million meals to good causes since its partnership with Neighbourly began in 2019.

Charities and community groups interested in working with Aldi should contact Neighbourly at aldi@neighbourly.com.