Coca-Cola Initiative To Redistribute 143,000 Meals This Christmas

Coca-Cola has announced a new partnership with with FoodCloud and FareShare for Christmas 2022, which aims to redistribute over 143,000 meals across Ireland and Northern Ireland.

With one in every nine people in Ireland living on an income below the poverty line and inflation tracking at 8%, Coca-Cola want to support FoodCloud and FareShare, part of Homeless Connect, in reaching those in need during this particularly challenging time of year.

As part of its longstanding partnership with both FoodCloud and FareShare, Coca-Cola donates product throughout the year, thereby reducing food waste and preventing the associated carbon emissions of food waste.

To build on this partnership this Christmas, shoppers in Tesco stores across Ireland will be in with a chance to win a meal out as part of a 'Win a Meal, Give a Meal' campaign and for every entry received, Coca-Cola will donate a meal to FoodCloud, up to the value of €20,000 representing 67,000 meals set to be donated this year. The lucky winners will receive a voucher worth €500 with 10 gift cards available.

As the Coca-Cola Christmas Truck returns for the first time since 2019, visitors to the Real Magic Christmas Experience will have the opportunity to add their name to a donation to FoodCloud in Dublin and FareShare in Belfast funded by Coca-Cola. As part of this experience Coca-Cola will donate €15,000 to FoodCloud supporting the redistribution of 50,000 meals and £8,000 to FareShare supporting over 26,000 meals. In addition, FareShare will receive £10,000 worth of Coca-Cola product over the festive season.

With branding onsite at the Real Magic Experience, Coca-Cola hopes to raise awareness of the crucial role both organisations play to address food insecurity and reduce food waste.

Tom Burke, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Director, Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland said: "FoodCloud and FareShare are longstanding partners of Coca-Cola, these organisations do incredible work to fight food waste and crucially to combat food insecurity. In addition, reducing food waste helps to eliminate thousands of carbon emissions and supports our journey to becoming a truly circular organisation. With consumers battling significant cost increases this year we hope this partnership can help ensure Christmas finds its way to those in need across the island."

Suzanne Delaney, Development Director of FoodCloud said: "Christmas this year will be significantly more expensive for families across Ireland and with one in every nine people* in Ireland living on an income below the poverty line we are working to help those who need it most. FoodCloud is delighted to be working with Coca-Cola this Christmas to ways to highlight the importance of reducing food waste and to support those in need."

Méabh Austin, NI Development Manager, FareShare, part of Homeless Connect said: "Approximately 316,000 (17%) of people in Northern Ireland lived in relative income poverty in March 2021 according to the Department of Communities. This static comes from before the significant cost increases we have seen in 2022, demonstrating the increased need to tackle food poverty this festive season. We are delighted to be working with Coca-Cola on this initiative for a second year to tackle food poverty."

Rosemary Garth, Tesco Ireland Communications Director said: "We are long term supporters of FoodCloud and advocates for reducing food waste and redistributing edible surplus food. Our 'Win a meal, Give a meal' initiative with Coca-Cola seeks to surprise customers who are all facing rising costs while also highlighting and supporting the incredible work of FoodCloud."