SPAR Italy partner Aspiag Service donated over 1,000 tonnes of unsold food in 2020 to local charities as part of its long-standing commitment to reduce food waste and help people in need. A total of 590 company-owned stores donated to over 200 charities, which helped prepare more than 2.3 million meals for people in need.

Commenting on this result, Francesco Montalvo, General Manager of Aspiag Service, said: “Our commitment to curb food waste is a priority and a deeply consolidated practice for us. Our company has been donating unsold food since 2003 by partnering with local charities such as the Food Bank and Last Minute Market.”

“We wish to thank these charities for their tireless commitment. Since 2015, all our DESPAR, EUROSPAR, and INTERSPAR stores have partnered with at least one charity that redistributes the goods to the many households in need. Our procedures have been perfected since we first started these donations. We have set up small-scale, virtuous supply chains of solidarity that have helped so many people”, he said.

The SPAR operator’s commitment remained strong during the pandemic.

“We have worked to overcome operational challenges to ensure we could donate food safely for all people involved, as it became clear that the need for this type of support had become even greater during the health crisis”, he added.

Aspiag Service donates unsold food that is still fit for consumption across all merchandise categories, especially the most perishable ones. This allows charities to compose complete meals, including fish, meat, bakery products, and packaged foods.

Food donations benefit not only those in need but also the environment. Donating food lowers the quantity of waste, thereby lowering the company’s environmental footprint.

The unsold food donations allowed Aspiag Service to achieve important results, such as a significant reduction in water usage, waste, and CO₂ emissions.

The SPAR retailer has been pursuing sustainable development among its main guidelines for growth for many years. Responsible retailing, including support to local communities and environmental protection, is part of its daily business. This approach is included in the design of SPAR retail stores at every level. Aspiag Service publishes an integrated report where development is considered in a broader sense, highlighting detailed facts about its responsible retail initiatives.

“In addition to preventing food from being wasted, we have been actively promoting healthy eating habits through our ‘Good Habits’ school initiative. Over the last eleven years, this has involved 2,000 teachers and 15,000 children. The promotion of good eating habits is vital to producing a cultural shift with regards to health and nutrition, and to restore the true value of food.”

Source: Aspiag Service – SPAR partner for Northeast Italy and Emilia Romagna

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About SPAR Italy

Italy

SPAR Italy was first granted the licence to operate the SPAR Brand in 1959. The first store opened in 1960, and with it, SPAR became the first partnership of retailers and wholesalers to operate in the country. SPAR Italy, known locally as DESPAR Italia, licenses regional partners, all of whom work together to grow the brand across the country.

The DESPAR Partners operate stores under three formats: DESPAR Neighbourhood Supermarkets, EUROSPAR Supermarkets, and INTERSPAR Hypermarkets. Many of the larger format stores are company-owned, reflecting the scale of investment required. While the majority of the company’s turnover is acquired through these larger format stores, the independently owned neighbourhood supermarkets remain a key part of the business.