ALDI’S Bradford stores are giving back to their communities by donating surplus stock to food banks and groups around the area.

The supermarket is giving away perishable items such as fresh fruit and veg, long life items and baked goods.

Stores in Bradford, Bingley, Shipley and Idle will be donating some of their supplies to Bradford Central Food Bank and Allerton Community Enterprise, a project that supports refugees living locally.

The new partnerships follow on from successful trials between the supermarket and community engagement platform, Neighbourly.

The trial began in January this year and, following its success, the scheme will be rolled out across Aldi’s empire between now and September.

Fritz Walleczek, managing director of corporate responsibility at Aldi UK and Ireland, said: “We’re always looking for new and creative ways to increase the amount of food we are able to donate. This partnership is enabling us to distribute even more surplus stock, while supporting a vast range of good causes, across West Yorkshire.

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“Our aim is for fresh, healthy food to be accessible for everyone, and Neighbourly are helping us to extend this commitment beyond our affordable range of fresh products.”

Last year the supermarket donated two million meals to charity and expects to increase this by 50 per cent now the trial has been extended to its 827 stores.

Any local charities in Bradford looking to partner up with an Aldi store should email aldi@neighbourly.com to apply.

Steve Butterworth, Neighbourly CEO said “We are delighted to be partnering with Aldi on this programme and to help them realise their ambition to benefit those communities local to each and every one of their stores across the UK. Food surplus is a challenge Aldi is committed to playing its part to address. This approach is critical to ensure surplus food finds its way easily to the good causes supporting those communities that need it most.”

The chain, which is the UK’s fifth largest supermarket, is hoping its partnership with Neighbourly will explore the impact of building more direct relationships within the communities it serves.

But it isn’t the first time the supermarket giant has strived for a more ethical approach to business.

The company has worked with both Fareshare and Company Shop since 2012.

The organisations redistribute food and household waste to community hotspots around the UK.

Aldi has not sent any waste to landfill since 2014 and has also pledged to reduce operational food waste by 50% by 2030 as part of the Friends of Champions 12.3 network.

Last year a report on food waste was commissioned by FareShare and carried out by NEF Consulting.

The results found the impact of current redistribution by the charity saves the UK economy approximately £51million per year. This is made up of £6.9m in social value to the beneficiaries themselves.

In response Lindsay Boswell, CEO of Fareshare, said: “We want to be clear - the food we redistribute is in date and good quality, just like the food you’d eat at home.”