Tesco customers have donated the equivalent of 1.48 million meals during the retailer’s Winter Food Collection.

The scheme, which ran from 24 to 29 November across Tesco’s large-format and Express stores, saw customers donate long-life food items for redistribution through food charities FareShare and Trussell.

More than 2,000 volunteers supported Tesco store colleagues during the campaign.

Alongside food donations, customers also contributed more than £300,000 through rounding up their shopping bills to the nearest pound at the till and via online donations. When combined with Tesco’s own financial contributions, total funding for the two charities will exceed £2m in 2025.

Ashwin Prasad, Tesco UK CEO, said the response from customers once again demonstrated the role large retailers can play in supporting local communities.

“Every single item donated really helps to make a huge impact in communities across the UK supported by Trussell and FareShare.

Prasad thanked customers and volunteers for helping make the collection “a special event in stores across the UK”.

Research from Trussell shows that more than 14 million people in the UK are now facing hunger, including 3.8 million children. The charity estimates its foodbank network will need to distribute an emergency food parcel every ten seconds this winter to meet demand.

FareShare reports similar pressures across its network, noting that more than a third of its partner charities now primarily support families with children or children’s services. Research carried out by FareShare’s network partner, The Felix Project, found that almost a quarter of UK working parents have accessed a food support service in the past year.

Food collected through the Winter Food Collection will be distributed to around 8,000 charities across the UK. Both FareShare and Trussell expect demand to increase further during the Christmas period, when families face higher living costs.

Kris Gibbon-Walsh, chief executive of FareShare, said the collection would help charities support people forced to choose between heating and food this winter.

“The food that we can provide thanks to the Winter Food Collection makes a real difference, helping to bring people together, strengthen communities and support those in need.

“Thank you to every single person that donated an item of food, topped up their shopping bill or generously gave their time to volunteer in store.

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