Starbucks unveils Last Hour 50 per cent discount to tackle food waste

By Rob Cole | 5 September 2017 | Add a Comment

Starbucks UK will offer unsold food items at a 50 per cent-discount during the last hour of trading in more than 350 stores across the UK from today (5 September) as part of the fight against food waste, with all proceeds going to Action Against Hunger, a humanitarian organisation specialising in child malnourishment.

Starbucks unveils Last Hour 50 per cent discount to tackle food waste The initiative is top be rolled out nationwide following a successful trial in a handful of Manchester stores earlier this year, with overwhelming feedback from customers and employees alike, with £1,500 raised for Action Against Hunger over an 11-week period.

While Starbucks affirms that Starbucks store managers carefully manage food orders online to reduce waste, the new initiative will allow them to use the half price discount label, which will overcome the legal and regulatory barriers associated with the transportation of fresh food items with a short remaining shelf-life.

Simon Redfern, Head of Communications at Starbucks Europe, said: “Tackling a challenge like food waste is not an easy one, but we’re proud to have developed a programme which will deliver for the long term.

“Off the back of the success of our Manchester trial, we’re pleased to roll out this programme to the rest of our company owned British stores, and will be working with our franchise partners to see where else this programme could work as well.

“Action Against Hunger is a respected international charity, and we’re looking forward to working with them on this initiative to support projects alleviating the impact of food poverty.”

Though not a new issue, food waste is gaining more and more recognition as a serious challenge facing society. In the UK, around 10 million tonnes of food and drink is wasted every year, of which 60 per cent is considered avoidable, with the average UK family spending around £470 on food that is later thrown out every year.

Matt White, Director of Fundraising and Communications at Action Against Hunger, added: “Our global food systems face tough challenges and addressing food waste is one of the most effective ways to support change.

“Right now there are 16 million children in the world suffering from the severest form of malnutrition. Every year between one and two million children die because they don’t have access to the right nutrition and healthy environment to grow up strong.

“By working together with Starbucks and their customers we aim to reduce food waste whilst raising money to save children’s lives where food security is threatened most – from Yemen and Iraq, to the countries currently at risk of famine, including South Sudan, Somalia and Nigeria.”