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Lidl is now selling 'Too Good to Waste' fruit and veg boxes

Photo credit: Lidl
Photo credit: Lidl

From Good Housekeeping

As part of Lidl's commitment to cutting food waste by 25% per store by 2020, the discount supermarket has announced a national roll-out of its 'Too Good to Waste' fruit and vegetable boxes across its 760 stores in England, Scotland and Wales.

The boxes, priced at £1.50, include approximately 5kg of fruit and vegetables straight from the store shelves. Unlike 'Wonky Veg' boxes that other supermarkets sell, these boxes are put together daily in-store by Lidl staff, containing fruit and veggies that may have become slightly damaged, discoloured or deteriorated.

The boxes are available as soon as the store opens, until midday, at which point any leftover boxes of produce are given to local good causes as part of Lidl's Feed it Back programme, which can include food banks, soup kitchens and community cafes.

Back in August, Lidl trialled the scheme in a few select areas to see if there was demand for the product. The scheme was gradually extended to 122 stores, and they sold more than 50,000 boxes and prevented 250 tonnes of food going to waste.

Photo credit: Casey Gutteridge
Photo credit: Casey Gutteridge

"The positive feedback that we have received off the back of our trial has been incredible; from our colleagues who are showing so much passion for them, to our customers who were getting in touch from the get go asking where they could get one," says Christian Härtnagel, CEO Lidl GB.

"The really brilliant thing about this initiative is that, not only is it helping to tackle the highly important challenge of food waste, it’s also helping our customers make even more savings."

"Additionally, it’s a great example of how we, as discounter, can utilise our lean and efficient business model to fulfil our mission to make good, healthy food more affordable and accessible, whilst acting sustainably."

Photo credit: Lidl
Photo credit: Lidl

As well as this initiative, Lidl has also announced the creation of charity event Lidl Mudder. The supermarket is taking over the children's event of the famous Tough Mudder charity obstacle course between May and September.

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