Tesco offers free food to charities and community groups this Easter

Charities and community groups across the UK are being invited to receive free surplus food from Tesco this Easter.

Every month the supermarket chain redistributes a million meals worth of surplus food to good causes, as part of its Community Food Connection scheme, which is run in conjunction with food charity FareShare.

This scheme enables some 7,000 charities and community groups to pick up free food from Tesco each week. But some of groups take a break during school holidays – which means Tesco can offer free surplus food to even more organisations over Easter.

Tesco head of community Alec Brown, said: “We know that there are some charities that may offer holiday clubs, or groups that put on special events over the Easter holidays, and it’s exactly those sort of groups that we want to hear from. Whatever time of year it is, we would much rather unsold food is put to good use in the community, and feeds people first, rather than going to waste.”

The free food includes fresh produce such as fruit, vegetables and baked goods, and chilled food such as meat, cheese and ready meals. Groups registered with the scheme are given scheduled collection days and receive a text alert to tell them what food is available. They can then choose what they want from the surplus food on offer.

FareShare chief executive Lindsay Boswell said: “We support many amazing frontline charities which use ‘in date’ surplus food from Tesco to feed thousands of vulnerable people right throughout the year. However, some groups, such as children’s breakfast clubs, close over the school holidays, which means there is even more food available – so don’t miss out.”

If you are a charity or community group that could benefit from the support of Community Food Connection this Easter, register your interest here.