Starbucks expands partnership with Action Against Hunger to tackle food waste across Europe


Plans to launch food waste programme in four additional European countries

British stores have raised £125,000 for Action Against Hunger since programme launched last year

November 8, 2018 – Today, Starbucks announced its partnership with Action Against Hunger will expand to Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland and France, increasing the company’s efforts to tackle food waste in the retail industry, while at the same time fighting hunger in communities in need around the world.

The partnership has been extended following last year’s launch of a programme combating food waste in Starbucks nearly 350 company-owned stores across Britain, which has now raised £125,000 for Action Against Hunger.

Beginning today, during the last hour of trading at Starbucks 85 company-owned stores across Austria, the Netherlands and Switzerland, any food nearing expiry that would otherwise be thrown out will be sold at a 50 percent discount. The entire sale of each item will be donated to Action Against Hunger, a leading humanitarian organisation, to help fund its projects that aid malnourished children worldwide. A similar programme addressing food waste and supporting Action Against Hunger will debut in France in 2019.

Starbucks store managers carefully manage their food product orders online, allocating precise items per store, which helps to reduce waste. However, on the occasions when fresh items would be thrown away, store managers will now display labels offering a half-price discount during the last hour before closing. One hundred percent of each sale’s proceeds are donated to Action Against Hunger.

Robert Lynch, vice president retail operations, Starbucks Europe Middle East and Africa, said: “Tackling a challenge like food waste is not an easy one, but we’re proud to have raised £125,000 for Action Against Hunger over the past year. Action Against Hunger does incredible work to fight hunger in communities around the world, and we’re looking forward to making an even greater impact as we expand our programme to four more European countries.”

Jean-Michel Grand, Executive Director, Action Against Hunger UK, said: “Action Against Hunger is immensely proud of our partnership with Starbucks in this initiative to reduce food waste while at the same time raising valuable funds. Money raised will go towards saving the lives of malnourished children in countries where food insecurity and famine are constant threats such as Yemen Iraq, South Sudan and Somalia. The £125,000 that has already been raised in the UK in the first year of the partnership is a tremendous achievement and we’re excited that the scheme is now being extended into other parts of Europe. There are currently 16.4 million children in the world suffering from the severest form of malnutrition. Every year at least two million children die because they don’t have access to the right nutrition and healthy environment to grow up strong. Thanks to the funds raised by Starbucks and their customers through their successful food waste initiative, Action Against Hunger is one step closer to achieving our goal of a world free from hunger.”

About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger is a global humanitarian organisation that takes decisive action against the causes and effects of hunger. We save the lives of malnourished children. We ensure everyone can access clean water, food, training and healthcare. We enable entire communities to be free from hunger www.actionagainsthunger.org.uk.

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A look back at Starbucks hunger relief efforts across Europe, Middle East and Africa in 2024