Following a successful trial, Aldi will donate surplus food directly to charities across the UK through a partnership with the community engagement platform, Neighbourly.

The recent trial saw 24 of the supermarket’s stores paired with local good causes that have been collecting surplus food and perishable products up to five days a week.

Aldi claims these direct relationships led to around a 50% increase in the amount of food each store was able to donate to charity.

Each store has been donating items such as fresh fruit and veg, baked goods and non-perishable items.

The partnership is now being rolled out across the UK, and Aldi’s more than 830 stores will be donating directly to charities by September.

Fritz Walleczek, managing director of Corporate Responsibility at Aldi UK, said: “The results of the trial are even better than what we had hoped for. Working directly with charities has not only enabled us to increase the amount of food we donate, but also increase the types of products we are able to share.”

Steve Butterworth, Neighbourly CEO said “We are delighted to be partnering with Aldi on this programme and to help them realise their ambition to benefit those communities local to each and every one of their stores across the UK.

“Food surplus is a challenge Aldi is committed to playing its part to address. This approach is critical to ensure surplus food finds its way easily to the good causes supporting those communities that need it most.”

Last year the supermarket donated two million meals to charity and expects the partnership with Neighbourly to result in a 50% increase in donations.

Aldi has not sent any waste to landfill since 2014 and has also pledged to reduce operational food waste by 50% by 2030 as part of the Friends of Champions 12.3 network.