Aldi stores launch partnership with local charities

As Aldi celebrates its 25^th anniversary in Scotland, 14 stores across Edinburgh and the Lothians are now donating surplus food directly to 17 local charities to help prevent hunger across the region.

This new partnership follows on from a successful trial between the supermarket and community engagement platform, Neighbourly. Aldi, which has stores across Edinburgh and the Lothians in areas including Oxgangs, Linlithgow and North Berwick has paired a total of 14 stores in the region 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 Darlington and Chelmsford in January 2019, and following its success, was rolled out across Aldi’s entire store estate.

Last year the supermarket donated two million meals to charity and expects to increase this by 50 per cent now the trial has been extended to its 827 stores across the UK, including its 87 stores in Scotland.

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 Edinburgh and the Lothians.

“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 CEO, commented: “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.”

This year marks the 25^th anniversary of Aldi opening its first store in Scotland and the 10^th anniversary of the creation of its dedicated Scottish Buying Department.

The supermarket was recently crowned Scottish Sourcing Business of the Year at the Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards, recognised for its strong relationships with over 90 local suppliers and commitment to increasing its range of Scottish products from 400 to over 450 by the end of 2020.

Please see below the full list of central Scotland stores and their chosen charities:

BATHGATE		Armadale Primary School
EDINBURGH – FRUITMARKET PLACE		Community One Stop Foodbank, Fresh Start
EDINBURGH – GILMERTON ROAD		Lasc Childcare Services Ltd Food Facts Friends Foodbank Drop In Centre
EDINBURGH – GORGIE PARK ROAD		Community One Stop Foodbank
EDINBURGH – LADY ROAD		Lasc Childcare Services Ltd, Food Facts Friends Foodbank Drop In Centre
EDINBURGH – OXGANGS ROAD NORTH		Lasc Childcare Services Ltd, Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre (Salvation Army)
HADDINGTON		The Ridge Cafe CIC
LINLITHGOW		1st Step Cafe
LIVINGSTON		Craigshill Good Neighbour Network
MUSSELBURGH		PSG Lunchclub
NORTH BERWICK		North Berwick Community Cupboard & Stepping Out,
PORTOBELLO		Upward Mobility Project Breakfast Club, Milan
TRANENT		PSG Lunchclub Home Start East Lothian
WHITBURN		The Boghall Drop In Centre

Any local charities in central Scotland looking to partner up with an Aldi store should email aldi@neighbourly.com to apply.