Derry Tesco customers urged to donate to annual winter food collection as demand for Foyle Foodbank soars

Tesco NI customers can make a huge difference to the lives of people facing hunger and hardship by donating long life items during the 13th annual Tesco Winter Food Collection.  

Last year, generous Tesco customers donated 1.9 million meals worth of food at the Winter Food Collection directly to Trussell and FareShare. Both charities expect to see continued demand for their services this winter with FareShare expecting to distribute the equivalent of more than 40 million meals worth of food in communities across the UK. 

Trussell research shows over 14 million people in the UK are now facing hunger, including 3.8 million children. They predict that their community of foodbanks will need to give out an emergency food parcel every ten seconds this winter to meet need. 

FareShare continues to see high levels of need and say that more than a third of charities now primarily serve families with children, or services for children.

In response to this, Tesco is once again making its pre-packed customer donation bags available in stores to make donating the most needed items as easy as possible for customers. All large stores already offer them during the supermarket’s Winter Food Collection, but this year, 86 of the largest Express stores will also stock them to make donating even easier no matter where you shop. 

The bags, which typically cost between £2.00 and £4.00 are pre-filled with healthy and nutritious long-life items and can be picked up in store and paid for at the checkout. The donated food is passed to FareShare and Trussell, who will distribute it to charities and food banks to help families who need it most.  

Tesco’s Winter Food Collection, the biggest in the UK, runs in its Express stores from November 24 - 29 and in large stores from November 27 - 29.  

The most-needed items according to FareShare and Trussell are: Cereal, oats & instant porridge; Tinned & dried soup; and Tinned beans.

Winter is typically the busiest time of year for Tesco’s charity partners who see a marked increase in the number of people needing to turn to them for support. This comes on top of an already challenging year, with food banks in the Trussell community providing 2.9 million parcels for people facing hardship in the past twelve months – a 51% increase compared to five years ago. As temperatures drop and bills continue to rise, food banks say they are now bracing themselves for another tough winter as levels of need remain exceptionally high.

Throughout the year, Tesco donates surplus food from its distribution network and stores through its charity and community partners, FareShare and Olio. Since 2012, Tesco has donated the equivalent of more than 300 million meals through FareShare alone, as part of its Community Food Connection programme. 

Karen Mullen, manager at Foyle Foodbank in Northern Ireland, said: “We’re proud to have a strong relationship with our local Tesco - especially with their dedicated Community Champion. In 2024 alone, across our summer and winter collections, we received an incredible 2,400 kg of food and essential items.

"This support from Tesco and their customers is more vital than ever, as rising food costs and growing demand continue to put pressure on our foodbank. Going into winter and Christmas the support from the winter collection ensures that we have enough food to help families and individuals in our City over that period.

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“The corporate relationship with Trussell and Tesco continues to be a tremendous support. Both teams work to plan and prepare for collections, providing marketing materials and coordinating the pre-packed donation bags. These bags are a brilliant initiative, especially for time-pressed shoppers, making it easier for them to contribute while ensuring we receive the specific items most needed at our foodbank.”

Ashwin Prasad, Tesco UK CEO, said: “With more families than ever expected to need help with essentials this winter, along with our partners, we are encouraging customers to donate whatever they can to our Winter Food Collection. If we all pull together, we can make a big difference to lives across the UK this winter. 

“It's our 13th Winter Food Collection and the generosity of Tesco customers and their commitment to helping their local community makes me and the entire Tesco team so proud.” 

Matthew Van Duyvenbode, co-chief executive at Trussell, said: “With a food parcel being given out every 10 seconds this winter, we know far too many people will be facing hunger and hardship during the festive season. Food banks are a lifeline, offering a warm welcome and a listening ear, but they will only be able to operate this winter with the generous support of the public.

“We know times are tough, but a donation can really make a difference. The Tesco Winter Collection is the perfect opportunity to help. The pre-packed donation bags make it easier than ever to support your local food bank today and help someone facing hunger today. We are so grateful to Tesco for its continued partnership and to you, our generous supporters, for making someone smile this winter.”

FareShare Chief Executive, Kris Gibbon-Walsh, said: “Food from FareShare reaches a network of over 8,000 charities across the UK, enabling them to provide food support alongside access to other vital services. In the winter months, many people accessing these local groups are forced to choose between keeping warm and eating. This makes the Tesco Winter Food Collection more important than ever. We are enormously grateful to all our colleagues at Tesco for their continued support, together we turn surplus and donated food into meals, strengthening communities and supporting those in need. 

“The Tesco Winter Food Collection enables us to collect long-life, staple ingredients that complement he fresh surplus food we redistribute. If shoppers can donate just one item at their local store, they’ll be helping to provide a meal for someone facing hardship this winter.”