Starbucks UK to tackle food waste with Action Against Hunger
The proceeds of the initiative will be used to support global fight against child hunger.
Starbucks UK has introduced a new initiative to address the issue of food waste in the retail industry, as well as the issue of global hunger. From 30 August 2017, during the last hour of trading in more than 350 Starbucks stores across Britain, any food nearing expiry that would otherwise be thrown out will be sold at a 50% discount. The entire sale of each item will in turn be donated to Action Against Hunger, a leading humanitarian organisation, to help fund its projects helping malnourished children worldwide.
The expansion of this new programme follows the successful trial in 16 Starbucks stores in Manchester earlier this 2017. Over an 11-week period, £1,500 was donated to Action Against Hunger from food sales.
Starbucks Europe head of communications Simon Redfern said, “Tackling a challenge like food waste is not an easy one, but we’re proud to have developed a programme which will deliver for the long term. Off the back of the success of our Manchester trial, we’re pleased to roll out this programme to the rest of our company owned British stores, and will be working with our franchise partners to see where else this programme could work as well. Action Against Hunger is a respected international charity, and we’re looking forward to working with them on this initiative to support projects alleviating the impact of food poverty.”
Action Against Hunger director of fundraising and communications Matt White said, “Action Against Hunger applaud the Starbucks initiative to tackle food waste. Our global food systems face tough challenges and addressing food waste is one of the most effective ways to support change. Right now there are 16 million children in the world suffering from the severest form of malnutrition. Every year between one and two million children die because they don’t have access to the right nutrition and healthy environment to grow up strong. By working together with Starbucks and their customers we aim to reduce food waste whilst raising money to save children’s lives where food security is threatened most – from Yemen and Iraq, to the countries currently at risk of famine, including South Sudan, Somalia and Nigeria.”
