Co-op supermarket sells food past ‘best before date’ in bid to cut waste
The scheme is hoped to cut two tonnes of waste and will be rolled out across the group's 125 shops in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex
CO-OP supermarket is to start selling food that is past its best before date in a bid to cut waste.
The chain is the first big retailer to adopt the scheme and will sell the produce for a flat rate of 10p in its stores.
Although the food will be sold past its best before date, it will be within its safe to use date meaning it is still edible.
The best before date relates to the quality of the produce when its eaten rather than its safety.
Last year the government found that £16 billion worth of food was being wasted every year.
That is equivalent to approximately £700 per household in Britain.
The scheme by the East of England Co-op, which is owned by its 275,000 members, will be available at 125 of its shops.
Each item will cost 10p and will include tinned foods, packaged items, and dried foods.
The scheme was trialled for three months in 14 of their branches before being rolled out across its stores in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex.
Roger Grosvenor, joint chief executive, told : "This is not a money making exercise, but a sensible move to reduce food waste and keep edible food in the food chain.
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"By selling perfectly edible food we can save 50,000 plus items every year that would otherwise have gone to waste.
"During our trial we found 10p items went within hours of being reduced, sometimes quicker. The majority of customers understand they are fine to eat."
Aldi has announced it will be giving away its food on Christmas Eve to charitable organisations that can collect it from any store in the country.
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