Charities and community groups in Edinburgh to participate in new scheme that lets them collect surplus food from Tesco stores.

Tesco has pledged that no food suitable for human consumption will go to waste by the end of 2017.

So far, 500,000 meals have been donated in Scotland alone since Community Food Connection started in February of last year. 7 million meals have been donated in the UK in total.

Tesco is now set to extend Community Food Connection to its convenience stores in Edinburgh – in Picardy Place, Dundas Street, Princes Street, South Bridge, Fountainbridge, Stenhouse Place, Gracemount Drive and Nicolson Street – which will significantly extend the number of charities reached and the number of meals given to people in need.

The charity aims to benefit homeless shelters, rehabilitation centres, after-school clubs and food banks, among other groups.

Karen Doherty, convenience north stores director for Tesco, said: ”At Tesco we have no time for waste. We’re so proud to already support local charities and community groups through Community Food Connection from our larger stores in Edinburgh and to be able to extend that support to our convenience stores is fantastic.”

”We are looking forward to forging more strong links with local charities and community groups in Edinburgh and supporting their efforts to help more vulnerable people in our community.”

For more information, or to register a charity for the Community Food Connection, visit the Fareshare website.

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