Coles has donated the equivalent of 37.5 million meals to Aussies in need over the course of the 2022 financial year, its highest ever annual total.
Cole’s says that as one of Australia’s largest food retailers, meal donations were a key part of its support for the community over FY22, as team members worked with customers and suppliers to contribute $142 million in community support, through fundraising, food donations, cash contributions, grants, partnerships, sponsorships and in-kind support.
Since forming partnerships with SecondBite in 2011 and Foodbank in 2003, Coles has donated the equivalent of 223 million meals.
In FY21 Coles donated more than 35 million meals, more than 18 million kilograms of food and $143 million in support to communities across Australia.
Over the course of FY22, it donated more than 18.9 million kilograms of unsold, edible food from its supermarkets and distribution centres.
Coles chief operations and sustainability officer, Matt Swindells, said the company was making good progress towards our ambition to be Australia’s most sustainable supermarket.
“I want to thank our team members, customers, community partners and suppliers for their efforts to help us fulfil our sustainability commitments over the past financial year. At a time when more and more Australians are facing food insecurity, we are pleased to have been able to work with SecondBite and Foodbank to deliver a record numbers of meals to help those in need,” said Swindells.
