A SCHEME where waste food is being handed over to charities and groups in need will be introduced next week at Tesco Callington.

For a few months Tesco has been trialling a nationwide scheme where any waste food that is fit to eat but no longer on sale is being handed over to local charities and not-for-profit groups instead of being dumped as landfill.

This Community Food Connection is a first for any of the major supermarkets and it is now starting to be rolled out to all stores, including in Callington.

As of October 3, Tesco Callington will be donating any surplus, unsold food that is still fit for consumption to any charities or deserving causes that ask for it. This will be every day, seven nights a week. Some nights there may be little, or nothing, others there may be a lot.

A spokesperson for Tesco Callington said: ‘We want to spread the word that we are looking for any local charities or non-profit groups to participate in this scheme. There is no catch, no fee; all we want is to line up charity partners who can make good use of any spare, free food from us on a regular basis.

‘You are not committed to take anything or everything that we have available, just to say yes or no to what we are offering and then deciding when you see it if you want it. Pretty much the same as if you were going shopping at a set time each week — except you don’t have to pay for it!’

Anyone who is interested, or would like any information can contact store manager Martin Hawkins or senior manager Paul Dunn on the store number 01579 529807.