Unsold Aldi food provides more than 14,800 meals for struggling Derbyshire residents at Christmas

Aldi paired up its stores with local charities, community groups and food banks to make the most of unsold fresh and chilled food after its stores closed on December 24.

The donation was Aldi’s largest to date and helped more than 21 charitable causes in Derbyshire at a time when more people are experiencing financial hardship and food insecurity due to Covid-19.

The initiative was also extended to New Year’s Eve, when Aldi donated a further 200,000 meals to charitable causes across the whole country.

The supermarket worked closely with partner Neighbourly to prioritise donations to charities and community groups focused on feeding children over the school Christmas holidays.

Luke Peech, managing director of corporate responsibility at Aldi UK, said: “We were proud to support good causes in Derbyshire during the festive period, helping them to provide fresh and filling meals over Christmas time.

“The feedback has been overwhelming and we were really pleased to extend the initiative, so we could do what we can for those in need within the community in what was an incredibly tough year for so many.”

Around 210 tonnes of food were donated throughout the UK, with more than 500,000 meals donated and more than 750 UK causes benefitting from the initiative in total.

The festive food donations are part of Aldi’s successful partnership with Neighbourly, a community giving platform that links businesses to charitable organisations.

Thanks to this, all of Aldi’s 900 UK stores now donate surplus food to good causes seven days a week, all year round.

Steve Butterworth, from Neighbourly, added: “Sadly, last festive season was the busiest on record for the nation’s charities and food banks.

"I’m sure Aldi’s donation was a lifeline for many.”