Danish retail group Dansk Supermarked has announced that its Føtex stores will donate surplus food to families in need this Christmas Eve.
The Danish retailer plans to hand out food that has not been sold by closing time on 23 December and that can’t last past 26 December at six of its larger stores.
Surplus food from 57 Føtex stores across the country will contribute to donations at the following store locations: Slotsgade in Aalborg, Frederiks Allé in Aarhus, Nørregade in Vejle, Vesterbro in Odense, Vanløse Torv in Vanløse and Nordmarks Allé in Albertslund.
Employees from across the country have already been working for hours to divide the food into bags and get the Christmas ceremony ready, the company said.
The idea started last year at the Vanløse department store. Its Facebook page saw a large positive response to the effort, according to Dansk Supermarked.
A number of other municipalities have launched local support activities too. Throughout the year, Føtex also collaborates with Wefood, the world's first supermarket with surplus goods.
Making A Difference
"It is a great pleasure to give something to others,” said Thor Jørgensen, director of Føtex, who will reportedly join the effort in Vanløse.
“We know that it can help make a real difference for some families to get a little extra help here during Christmas, and if we can help at Føtex to make sure they have a Merry Christmas it’s well worth it.”
"I am really proud that so many colleagues have chosen to spend their day off helping others,” he added. “From the closing of the shops on December 23 until the very last bag is handed out, we will do whatever we can to spread a little extra Christmas joy to all who come to us.”
"There is huge logistical work in getting sorted and packed goods from 57 stores and driving them to one of the larger Føtex stores,” he added. “We generally focus on reducing our food waste, so there is also a huge gain in being able to make use of the food instead of it being on the shelves and expiring and going to waste when we open the stores again on December 27.”
Dansk Supermarked said that Føtex stores close on December 23 at 9pm, remain closed until opening again at 8am on 27 December. Føtex convenience stores will remain open over the Christmas holidays.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Kevin Duggan. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
