ALDI is embracing the season of goodwill this year and is calling on charities and community groups in Ludlow to register so that they can collect food donations this Christmas Eve.

The Festive season is a busy time for organisations like the Ludlow Food Bank.

Following the launch earlier this year of the successful partnership with Neighbourly, a community engagement platform that links businesses to key charitable organisations, 95 per cent of Aldi stores are now donating surplus food up to five days a week, all year round.

Christmas provides an opportunity for even more charities to benefit from the initiative Aldi is therefore calling on all charities and community groups in Ludlow to get in touch for a Christmas Eve donation.

As part of the Christmas initiative, charities and community groups will be paired with local Aldi stores and can collect fresh food products that are near the end of their shelf life such as fruit, vegetables, fresh meat, fish and bread after the store closes at 6pm on Christmas Eve.

Last Christmas, Aldi donated just under half a million meals to charities across the UK, and is hoping to increase this for Christmas 2019, spreading Christmas cheer to even more families.

“Our Christmas food donation scheme is something we’re really passionate about, and we’re working with Neighbourly this year to pair as many stores up as possible,” said Fritz Walleczek, Managing Director of Corporate Responsibility at Aldi UK.

“Last year we were able to reach thousands of people across the UK, and some charities were even able to prepare fresh meals that fed families well into the New Year.

“This is our third year of Christmas food donations and we’re hoping this year will be just as successful, and we look forward to working with local charities and food banks from Ludlow in the future.”

There are a number of requirements that organisations wanting help from Aldi will have to meet. In order to meet legal requirements, they will have to have a level two food hygiene certificate that has been granted in the past two years. They will need to be registered as a charity or Community Interest Company and will also need to be able to collect, transport and store chilled food products.

Charitable groups interested in working with Aldi this Christmas should contact Neighbourly at aldichristmas@Neighbourly.com before Monday, November 11.