New partnership will see Aldi give food to homeless

A partnership between Chichester’s Aldi and homeless charity Stonepillow will see food distributed to homeless people in the area.

The partnership follows on from a trial between the supermarket and community engagement platform Neighbourly.

Aldi has paired up a total of four stores in West Sussex with local good causes that are now collecting surplus food up to five days a week.

Each store is donating perishable items such as fresh fruit and veg, long life items and baked goods.

The trial began in January 2019 and, following its success, was rolled out across Aldi’s entire store estate.

Fritz Walleczek, managing director of corporate responsibility at Aldi UK and Ireland, said: “We’re always looking for new and creative ways to increase the amount of food we are able to donate.

“This partnership is enabling us to distribute even more surplus stock, while supporting a vast range of good causes, across the West Sussex region.

“Our aim is for fresh, healthy food to be accessible for everyone and Neighbourly are helping us to extend this commitment beyond our affordable range of fresh products.”

Steve Butterworth, Neighbourly chief executive, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Aldi on this programme and to help them realise their ambition to benefit those communities local to each and every one of their stores across the UK.

“Food surplus is a challenge Aldi is committed to playing its part to address. This approach is critical to ensure surplus food finds its way easily to the good causes supporting those communities that need it most.”