Mercadona intensifies its food donation activities in Spain and Portugal

Mercadona focuses its food waste reduction strategy on measures aimed to prevent food waste. 

The retailer also started a food donation program in 2013 to redistribute food that can be safely consumed, but cannot be sold, such as packs with missing units or leftovers from seasonal campaigns. These products are donated to soup kitchens located close to the stores, in order to maximize produce freshness and ensure maximum quality. 

In December 2020, Mercadona donated more than 2 000 tonnes of fresh food to 290 soup kitchens in Spain and Portugal. 

Donation to soup kitchen in Galicia, Spain

© Mercadona

Zer0 % waste fruit and vegetable box available in all Continente stores in Portugal

After a pilot project, the Zer0 % waste fruit and vegetable boxes are already on sale in all – more than 300 -  Continente stores in Portugal. The 5-kilogram boxes contain fruit and vegetables, which are near the end of their commercial value, but still in perfect condition for consumption. This project prevents the waste of tonnes of food, while offering products in excellent condition at a friendlier price to consumers. The project has ‘saved’, since its launch in 2019, more than 40 000 kilograms of fruit and vegetables, and its goal is to avoid wasting 1 000 tonnes of fruit and vegetables per year.

Learn more about the Zer0 % waste fruit and vegetable boxes by following this link.