A SUPERMARKET chain across Wirral have donated more than 20,000 meals to local people in need.

This contribution from Tesco stores is thanks to the company’s surplus food redistribution programme, Community Food Connection, in partnership with FareShare FoodCloud.

Branches in the Wirral have helped the programme reach its first milestone of one million meals of surplus food donated by Tesco stores nationwide.

As part of Tesco’s ongoing pledge to cut food waste, Community Food Connection links local charities and community groups to Tesco stores via an innovative app that allows store teams to let local charities know there is unsold food available at the end of each day.

The programme sees Tesco stores across the UK donating their unsold food to these organisations for free.

The scheme was launched earlier this year, with Tesco working closely with food redistribution charity FareShare, and local charities and community groups.

The unsold food provided includes fresh produce, such as fruit, vegetables and bakery products as well as chilled products like meat, dairy and ready meals are also offered.

To date 2,000 charities and community groups have signed up to the programme.

In total an incredible 21,958 meals has been donated throughout Wirral.

Rifka Chakkalakal, community food programmes manager at Tesco said: “We are delighted to see the Wirral contribute a fantastic 21,958 meals of surplus food to people in need.

“We believe that no food that could be eaten should go to waste, so we’re excited to continue to grow this initiative.

“That’s why we’re looking for even more charities and community groups to come forward to register for the programme.

“If you serve food to people in need in your community – we want to hear from you!”

Any charities or community groups in that are interested in joining the programme should visit www.fareshare.org.uk/fareshare-foodcloud.