“Maxima” makes first food donation for charity

One of the sustainable development objectives of the United Nations (UN) provides for ensuring sustainable consumption habits of the population and production models. Necessity to reduce volume of food waste per capita by half at the retail trade and consumption levels and to reduce loss of food in the production and supply chains by 2030 have been determined as one of the key guidelines for the achievement of the objective. In order to implement this objective, “Maxima Latvija” actively engaged in the direction of the amendments to the Law On the Supervision of the Handling of Food, and, as a result of this initiative, in July this year, regulations have entered into effect permitting donation of certain foodstuffs for charity purposes after the expiry of the minimum shelf life.

 

“Our company has already donated food for various purposes, for example, to orphan’s homes and associations of disabled people in association with the website Ziedot.lv,and providing fruit and vegetables to animals in cooperation with Riga zoo. Therefore, we are really welcome these amendments to the law, which will enable both to help people facing difficult times and to facilitate positive environmental changes. Reduction of food leftovers helps us to fully use the available resources, thus providing full cycle of food circulation, as well as to reduce impact of processes on the environment. We are absolutely sure that this novelty still has room for significant improvement in the future by allowing legally donation of food not only to the organisations, but also directly to the people, who need support,” explains Dace Grava, Director of the LLC (SIA) “Maxima Latvija” Quality and Process Management Department.

 

“Every year, the Food Bank “For Fed Latvia” maintained by the Latvian Samaritan Association provides help to more than 20,000 people in need across Latvia. I think that the latest amendments to the Law On the Supervision of the Handling of Food will not only enable reduction in the amounts of wasted food, but also to help several thousands of families in need, including children, seniors and disabled people, as well as enable us to diversify our food packs,” tells Agita Kraukle, Head of the Food Bank, pointing out that the initiative of the retail chain Maxima in this project is welcome for the possibility to receive food at such short notice.

 

Latest amendments to the Law on the Supervision of the Handling of Food provide for possibility to donate certain foodstuffs to charity organisations after the expiry of the minimum shelf life. Shops may donate pre-packed food with special marking, whereas, the organisations receiving the donations must be registered with the Food and Veterinary Service. At the time being, “Maxima Latvija” will provide donation of food at the three largest “Maxima” supermarkets in Riga – shopping centre “Domina Shopping”, shopping and entertainment centre “Akropole” and Grostonas Street 1.

 

 

Jānis Beseris

Director of the LLC (SIA) “Maxima Latvija” Corporate Relations Department

E-mail: janis.beseris@maxima.lv

Phone: +371 29666603