In a remarkable achievement for sustainability and community support, Iceland has successfully redistributed 2.5 million meals to local communities throughout 2024.
Since establishing a partnership with the food-sharing app Olio in 2022, the frozen food retailer Iceland has made significant strides in reducing food waste. The collaboration has led to the saving of 3,228 tonnes of food that might otherwise have been discarded.
Operating across nearly 1,000 Iceland and The Food Warehouse stores throughout the UK, the initiative relies on local ‘Food Waste Heroes’ who collect surplus food to share with users within Olio’s network. In this year alone, the efforts have resulted in providing meals for 55,900 families, along with achieving a CO2e saving of 4,758,729 kg – an environmental impact equivalent to removing 16,215,373 cars from the road.
Richard Walker, Iceland Foods’ executive chairman, highlighted the importance of these efforts, stating, “Redistributing 2.5 million meals this year is something we’re incredibly proud of. At Iceland, our ‘Doing it Right’ philosophy is at the heart of everything we do, and this milestone is a great example of that commitment in action.”
Walker emphasised that this partnership is about more than just reducing food waste; it is about supporting communities and ensuring that surplus food reaches those who need it most. He added, “By partnering with Olio, we’re not just reducing our environmental footprint—we’re making sure surplus food gets to the people who need it most. It’s about more than just food waste, it’s about supporting our communities and doing what’s right for future generations.”
Furthermore, Iceland has announced plans to expand its innovative food redistribution trial, called ‘lucky dip bags’, with Olio to five additional stores in the North West by the end of October. This move demonstrates Iceland’s commitment to exploring more avenues for reducing food waste and strengthening community support.
Iceland’s proactive measures in food redistribution highlight a forward-thinking approach to environmental responsibility and community support. This partnership with Olio not only addresses the issue of food waste but also exemplifies a model of corporate responsibility poised to make a meaningful difference in society.
