BLACK Country supermarkets will be hosting an even this weekend as part of a drive to help customers reduce food waste.

Throughout Saturday and Sunday (September 10 and 11) staff at Sainsbury’s Amblecote and Merry Hill stores will be handing out free fridge thermometers so shoppers can ensure their food is being stored at an optimum temperature.

The move comes as part of the £10 million ‘waste less, save more’ initiative to help households reduce the level of food they’re throwing away.

Kirsty Rose, store Manager at Sainsbury’s Amblecote, said: “The typical UK household throws away, on average, £700 of food each year. Through our waste less, save more campaign, we hope that our customers will pick up some handy tips to help them reduce the amount of food that they throw away and save money.”

One of the tips is that by setting a fridge between 0 to 5 degrees, fresh foods will keep for longer.

Paul Crewe, head of sustainability at Sainsbury’s, said: “We’re really excited to be sharing waste less, save more with the nation.

“Food waste continues to be a top priority for our customers, both in terms of saving money and the environment, and so we hope our hints and tips will really helpful for people in the Stourbridge and Dudley area.”