Tesco Launches Christmas Food Appeal

Television presenter and mum of two, Laura Woods, has teamed up with Tesco Ireland to launch this year’s Christmas Food Appeal, in partnership with FoodCloud. Tesco is calling on its customers to support local community groups by contributing to its annual Christmas Food Appeal in stores during Friday 3^rd – Sunday 5^th December.

Tesco’s Christmas Food Appeal collects non-perishable food or household items donated by customers in stores to support community groups that they work with through a partnership with FoodCloud. The campaign encourages shoppers to purchase an additional item during their trip to select Tesco stores and donate it to the Christmas Appeal Trolley located in store on their way out. Customers are asked to pick up non-perishable foods (e.g. tea bags, pasta and rice, breakfast cereals, and tinned goods) and household necessities (e.g. toiletries, nappies, small clothing items, and toys); and all of the items will be given to over 150 local community groups throughout the FoodCloud network, who will in turn distribute it to local families in need.

The participating stores in county Dublin are: Ballyfermot, Liffey Valley, Lucan, Merrion, Nutgrove, Rathfamham, Tallaght, Clondalkin, Ballybrack, Bloomfields, Dundrum, Stillorgan, Rathmines, Sandymount, Terenure, Artaine Castle, Balbriggan, Blanchardstown, Cabra, Calrehall, Finglas, Rush, Santry, Swords Extra, Kilbarrack, Jervis Street, Parnell Street, Phibsboro and Prussia Street.

Tesco was the first national retailer to partner with FoodCloud in 2014, working to ensure no good food goes to waste. Since 2014, Tesco has donated over 14.5 million meals to more than 380 community groups throughout Ireland. 

Rosemary Garth, Director of Communications at Tesco Ireland said: “We are delighted to host the annual Christmas Food Appeal again for the ninth year in a row to support local community groups along with our customers. This year, we have 108 partners ready to collect and distribute the donated food and household items to over 150 local community groups across Ireland. Although Christmas is a very joyous time of the year for most, it can also be very difficult for others, so it’s important that we support local charitable organisations who do a tremendous work for those who need it most. Year on year, our customers have shown incredible generosity through donating whatever they can in store, and we encourage those who shop with us support as much as they can’.

Aoibheann O’Brien, Co-Founder & Partnerships Director of FoodCloud added: “As Covid-19 continues to take its toll, the demand for support for food within communities all over Ireland, also continues to grow. In addition to the continued support from our partner Tesco through daily donations of surplus food via our tech platform and our hubs, we are so grateful to Tesco‘s customers for once again supporting the annual Tesco Christmas Food Appeal”.

Campaign ambassador, Laura Woods commented: “I am excited to help raise awareness for this year’s Tesco Christmas Food Appeal and encourage customers to get involved with and pick up even one additional item to donate to Christmas Appeal Trollies located throughout the selected stores. If we all play even a small part, we can make a big difference to those most vulnerable this festive season’. 

To support your local charitable organisation through the Tesco Christmas Food Appeal, please visit a Tesco store from Friday, 3^rd December to Sunday, 5^th December from 11am and 7pm and make any donation possible.