// Morrisons to send £10m worth of food to food banks across the UK
// The grocer will ramp up production from manufacturing sites amid the coronavirus outbreak
Morrisons has said it will donate £10 million worth of groceries to food banks across the UK amid the coronavirus pandemic by boosting production at its manufacturing sites.
The Big 4 grocer will operate its bakery, egg and fruit and vegetable packing sites for an extra hour each day in order to make, prepare and pack the food needed to restock food banks.
There are 14 Morrisons production sites across the UK.
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Morrisons also plans to send deliveries of staple foods, including pasta, bread and tinned products, to its supermarkets to be sent to local food banks.
The supermarket chain is also raising purchase limits on certain food lines, or removing them altogether in a bid to make it easier for shoppers to donate to food banks.
Furthermore, it will install “local” drop-off points to make it easier for shoppers to donate food products.
Morrisons has 120,000 staff and serves over 12 million customers each week.
It is planning for the £10 million worth of food to be distributed to food banks by July.
“We know food banks are finding life very difficult and running our manufacturing sites for an extra hour each day to help restock them is the right decision at this time,” Morrisons chief executive David Potts said.
Last week, the Co-op said it would donate £1.5 million worth of food to food redistribution charity FareShare, to help boost stocks and support local communities.
Meanwhile, Waitrose is also sending extra items to food banks, while German discounter Lidl has set up donation boxes in its stores.
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