Sainsbury’s to label ‘food bank friendly’ products
Retailer found that donations trebled during trial scheme
Sainsbury’s is to become the first UK supermarket to label products suitable for donation to food banks, in a bid to encourage shoppers to give to those in need.
From today, all Sainsbury’s stores will be introducing new shelf signs below items such as tinned food, pasta and tea bags, the Manchester Evening News reports.
The scheme is the brainchild of a group of Exeter teenagers enrolled on a National Citizen Service summer programme, who noticed that food bank collection points in supermarkets were often placed so that customers only noticed them after finishing their shopping.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The group then pitched the idea of shelf labels to highlight the most-needed products to a local Sainsbury’s store, which agreed to trial the scheme.
Since the notices went up, in-store food bank donations have trebled, prompting the retail giant to roll out the system nationwide to its 1,400 stores.
Food banks across the country “are preparing for a big rise in demand when universal credit is rolled out by calling for more donations and volunteers, and stockpiling essential supplies”, The Guardian reports.
Claudine Blamey, Sainsbury's head of corporate responsibility and sustainability, said: “We are committed to making a positive difference in local communities and we hope our customers get on board to help brighten the lives of those less fortunate in the community.”
Although the intention behind the scheme has received a positive reception on social media, some expressed discomfort that the use of food banks had become “normalised” in the UK.
The labels are part of a wider campaign called Help Brighten a Million Christmases, which, with the help of Sainsbury’s subsidiary Argos, aims to rack up one million food and toy donations for UK families in need before Christmas.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - November 2, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - anti-fascism, early voter turnout, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Geoff Capes obituary: shot-putter who became the World’s Strongest Man
In the Spotlight The 'mighty figure' was a two-time Commonwealth Champion and world-record holder
By The Week UK Published
-
Israel attacks Iran: a 'limited' retaliation
Talking Point Iran's humiliated leaders must decide how to respond to Netanyahu's measured strike
By The Week UK Published
-
'Biblical' toad plague causes pile up
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Sex toy ad joking about Prince Harry is banned
feature And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
‘Was a new statue of Thatcher really a wise idea?’
Instant Opinion Your digest of analysis from the British and international press
By The best columns Published
-
Home Office worker accused of spiking mistress’s drink with abortion drug
Speed Read Darren Burke had failed to convince his girlfriend to terminate pregnancy
By The Week Staff Published
-
In hock to Moscow: exploring Germany’s woeful energy policy
Speed Read Don’t expect Berlin to wean itself off Russian gas any time soon
By The Week Staff Published
-
Were Covid restrictions dropped too soon?
Speed Read ‘Living with Covid’ is already proving problematic – just look at the travel chaos this week
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Inclusive Britain: a new strategy for tackling racism in the UK
Speed Read Government has revealed action plan setting out 74 steps that ministers will take
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sandy Hook families vs. Remington: a small victory over the gunmakers
Speed Read Last week the families settled a lawsuit for $73m against the manufacturer
By The Week Staff Published