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Countdown and The Salvation Army have launched Countdown Food Rescue, a nationwide initiative to help redirect surplus ‘fit for consumption’ food from going to waste.

 

Groceries that Countdown cannot sell which remain safe to eat will now be redirected to The Salvation Army wherever possible.

 

The demand for emergency food assistance is rising in New Zealand and the Countdown Food Rescue programme will help provide good food to those who need it.

 

“In the year end September 2011, we distributed close to 67,000 food parcels in New Zealand,” says The Salvation Army Public Relations Secretary, Major Robbie Ross.

 

“This includes helping 28,500 new clients or families who have required emergency food assistance. The need for food parcels will only increase over the Christmas period with many people having to decide between presents and food.”

 

For Countdown, its partnership with The Salvation Army is a way to help address the underlying social problem of hunger in New Zealand.

 

“We have food in our supermarkets which, for various reasons, we cannot sell.  Much of this food is good quality and can be rescued and sent to create food parcels for those who need it,” says Countdown’s General Manager of Operations, Brett Ashley.

 

“Countdown had been donating food to local charities on an ad-hoc basis for some time, but we believe it’s time for New Zealand to get serious about food waste and for retailers to get on board and do what they can to help.”

 

Mr Ashley said every Countdown store in New Zealand will also be donating $500 worth of groceries to their local Salvation Army Centre to give the food banks a much needed boost this Christmas.

“We’ve heard that many of The Salvation Army food banks are running on empty at a time when their services are needed the most.  More than $80,000 worth of groceries will be provided to The Salvation Army to help create over 1,000 food parcels.

 

“We’ll also be running in-store appeals and educating our customers on what grocery items are needed to help fill up the food banks this Christmas so they can contribute if they wish.”

 

As part of Countdown Food Rescue, all stores will be inviting customers to ‘add an extra helping’ and donate to the appeal in the lead-up to Christmas. For the week beginning Monday 5 December, each store will be displaying the trolley of groceries it will be gifting to local Salvation Army Centres across the country. Customers are invited to add non-perishable items to donation boxes in-store or make a donation at the checkout to support The Salvation Army Christmas Appeal.

 

“We truly appreciate the support of Countdown and the active role it’s taking to assist those New Zealanders in need this Christmas. One box of cereal or can of spaghetti might not mean much to some people but it can make the world of difference to some of the people we help,” says Major Ross.

 

“It’s the Christmas spirit of giving – but on a long-term basis.”

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