A Bromsgrove supermarket is making good use of unsold food which otherwise would have been thrown away.

Aldi has started donating surplus food directly to local groups and charities, including Bromsgrove and Redditch Parenting and Family Support and Leapgate Activity Centre.

The Bromsgrove store is among five in Worcestershire which has been paired up with local good causes, allowing them to collect surplus fruit and veg, long life items and baked goods, up to five days a week.

It follows a successful trial between the supermarket and community engagement platform Neighbourly.

The trial began in January 2019, and following its success, was rolled out across Aldi’s entire store estate.

Michele Handley a trustee at Leapgate in Stourport said they were collecting the donated food every Monday, starting last week, which was then used in their onsite cafe.

"We are extremely grateful," she said.

Leapgate Activity Centre is based on a working farm and provides educational and vocational training and support to adults with learning disabilities. Some of the centre users work in the cafe, which is open to members of the public.

Fritz Walleczek, managing director of corporate responsibility at Aldi , said: “We’re always looking for new and creative ways to increase the amount of food we are able to donate.

"This partnership is enabling us to distribute even more surplus stock, while supporting a vast range of good causes, across the West Midlands.

"Our aim is for fresh, healthy food to be accessible for everyone, and Neighbourly are helping us to extend this commitment beyond our affordable range of fresh products.”

Charities looking to partner up with Aldi can email aldi@neighbourly.com to apply.