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Arla donates 10 million meals worth of dairy surplus to charity
The partnership has seen Arla’s surplus dairy stock redistributed across FareShare’s network of 8,500 charities since 2017. In 2022 alone the dairy firm diverted the equivalent of one million meals of surplus dairy products.
Catriona Mantle, head of milk, organic and yogurts at Arla, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to work with such a meaningful charity and help get nutritional-rich dairy into the hands of even more people over the UK.
‘Seamless process’
“Since kick-starting our partnership with FareShare, we have implemented a seamless process with our UK sites to re-distribute surplus food waste and transfer it into healthy meals for those in need. Dairy is a core staple of so many much-loved dishes across the nation and as our work together grows, we are committed to elevating our support.”
The partnership also sees Arla employees regularly participate in volunteering activities at FareShare sites across the UK.
Simon Millard, director of food at FareShare, added: “With demand at an all-time high due to the cost-of-living crisis, the support of our partners in the food industry is more important than ever.
‘Huge difference’
“By providing surplus dairy products, Arla has made a huge difference to ensuring that good food goes to people, not waste, and helped support and strengthen communities across the country.”
Arla’s update on its charity work come as the group reported a 2.4% year-on-year revenue increase as part of its 2023 financial results. Despite the challenges of “high inflation and elevated dairy prices”, the firm posted revenues of £2.6bn for the full-year, while also increasing UK branded volumes by 2.2%.
Commenting on the performance, Arla Foods UK managing director Bas Padberg said while inflationary pressures dominated the first part of the year, the firm demonstrated its “ability to adapt to challenging market conditions” during H2.
Meanwhile, following a fruit-rescue project last year, London surplus food charity, The Felix Project, teamed up with a Kent juicer to produce its own juice for the first time.
