Starbucks FoodShare to Rescue 100% of Food Available for Donation

Starbucks Canada has announced the launch of Starbucks FoodShare, a national effort to rescue 100% of food available for donation from its more than 1,100 company-owned stores.

Hunger versus Wasted Food

More than 4 million Canadians are impacted by hunger and wasted food is a wide-scale problem for everyone in the food business. In Canada, it is estimated that nearly 60% of all food produced is lost and wasted annually, according to a recent study.

In Canada, the company has always donated unsold pastries and baked goods but wanted to do more. Starbucks invested in research and quality assurance testing to develop a sector-leading program to safely donate chilled and perishable food to those in need. Now, nourishing items like breakfast sandwiches, paninis, protein boxes, salads, yogurt, milk and dairy alternatives like soy and coconut, can be safely donated and enjoyed by those in need.

National Solution in Place by 2021

Building on a successful pilot with Second Harvest, the largest food rescue organization in Canada, Starbucks FoodShare will launch in Ontario starting with more than 250 stores in the GTA by February 22. Starbucks is actively working to expand the program to even more cities and provinces, with a goal to have a national solution in place by 2021.

Starbucks FoodShare has identified guidelines and developed training on maintaining the temperature, texture and flavour of this food, so that when it reaches a person in need, they can safely enjoy it. In turn, Second Harvest will work with local community groups across the province who will collect the food to ensure these food safety standards are met.

The program hopes to reduce the social and environmental costs of food waste including diverting food surplus from landfills.

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