Nottingham-based community interest company (CIC), Foodprint, has ramped up the number of meals it is providing to those in need thanks to M&S’s food redistribution programme.
An innovative colleague app, launched in March 2020, it is used to notify charities and community groups when surplus food is available, helping to increase donations and stop food going to waste. Since the app launch, M&S West Bridgford has provided over 9,500 meals to the local community.
Poppy Wood, Team Leader at Foodprint said, “We have been overwhelmed by the support and donations from M&S West Bridgford to our social supermarket. Unfortunately, those experiencing food poverty in Nottingham is on the rise, so our incredible student volunteers are working flat out to provide essential items to those in our community during the pandemic. The donations from M&S will make a huge difference to the number of vulnerable people we’re able to support.”
Andy Bowley, Store Manager at M&S West Bridgford said, “When we have surplus food our absolute priority is for it to end up on someone’s plate, through our food redistribution programme with Neighbourly. We’re thrilled that the app has already helped to make a difference to Foodprint who do such an incredible job in our local community. By providing charities and community groups with updates in real-time, they’re able to collect even more meals to feed the people they support and help us to prevent food going to waste.
Since 2015, M&S stores have supported over 2,000 local causes nationwide, from food banks to youth clubs and hospices, donating over 22 million meals so far to those in need. In partnership with Neighbourly the new colleague app is now in all 585 M&S stores, enabling many of them to more than double their food redistribution rates. Across the UK, more than 11 million meals have been donated since 1st March 2020.
M&S is always looking for new partners to work with. Local charity and community groups who would like to get involved in the food surplus programme or other charity initiatives are encouraged to email [email protected] to find out more.