Morrisons is sending offcuts from larger bunches of grapes to food charity FareShare in a new collaboration at the retailer’s Cutler Heights packhouse in Bradford.
It builds on an existing partnership that involves surplus fresh fish and seafood from Morrisons’ Grimsby manufacturing site being sent to FareShare. The charity also works with the retailer’s own brand suppliers to redistribute any surplus stock.
Under the new deal, smaller offcuts from large grape bunches will now be redistributed to FareShare’s network of over 6,700 frontline charities and community groups. These groups provide meals for vulnerable people, including children’s breakfast clubs, community centres for families in deprived areas and lunch clubs for older people at risk of social isolation.
FareShare CEO Lindsay Boswell said: “The idea came about when we were on a factory walkthrough with the team at Cutler Heights. They spotted the grapes and we decided to work together to do something practical with the surplus. Our charities can’t get enough fresh fruit and veg, so this made total sense for us.
“Finding a product that could have been discarded and turning it either into something commercially viable or that benefits those in need is a ‘win-win’ situation. This project is a testament to Morrisons’ commitment to working alongside FareShare to find innovative ways of reducing food waste at every stage of production.”
Steven Butts, Morrisons head of CSR, said: “Working with FareShare in our manufacturing sites is a good addition to our wider surplus redistribution programme. It broadens our commitment to reduce food waste across our operations. We have now donated over three million unsold products to community groups from our stores.”
