# Charities working in partnership with companies must reserve their right to slam

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2013/10/22/charities-working-partnership-with-retailers-must-reserve-their-right-slam/
- Published: 2013-10-22T09:57:01+01:00
- Author: John Thompson

**Barely a day goes by when we’re not reminded that, despite being a highly developed
and relatively wealthy nation, huge numbers of people across the UK are relying 
on food banks to help make ends meet.  For example, The Trussell Trust, one of the
most high profile operators, handed out 350,000 supplies from its 400 food banks
between April and September this year.**

This sorry state of affairs has also seen the formation of some high profile corporate-
community initiatives to help address the problem. For example, for three days in
November, **British Red Cross** volunteers at **Tesco** stores across the UK will
collect food donations and encourage shoppers to buy extra items to give to **FareShare**,
the UK charity supporting communities to relieve food poverty.  **This will be the
first time since WWII that the Red Cross has distributed food aid to those in need.**

Cue much appreciation for big brands coming together to feed needy people.

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Hot on the heels of this announcement, however, Tesco has published its first ever
food waste survey, revealing its stores and distribution centres generated nearly
30,000 tonnes of food waste in the first six months of 2013. Additionally, and signalling
a possible end to all BOGOF offers, it found that 68 per cent of bagged salad is
wasted and 35 per cent of this waste occurs in the home.

Cue much slamming from Oxfam and Friends of the Earth.

On that slamming, in today’s Marketing Week Oxfam is reported as dubbing the amount
of food that gets wasted a “scandal”, while Friends of the Earth says it needs to
go much further in tackling the issue.  Other retailers screamed “welcome to the
party”, whilst brandishing their own food waste brownie points.

Cue much lashing of Tesco on social media for being an evil food wasting, charity-
manipulating monster.
But what intrigued me most were the more measured comments
from its charity partner Fareshare, with Caley Eldred, Director of fundraising and
marketing saying: “We welcome Tesco’s decision to acknowledge waste in the system.
This is a difficult subject to talk about publicly. But the industry needs to be
more practical about waste and find more ways to make sure use of food that would
otherwise be wasted.”

Notice the positive comment about Tesco and how the focus then shifts from Tesco
towards a semi-slam of grocery retailing in general?

I’ve no idea whether Tesco’s food aid partners were briefed in advance of today’s
revelations, or agreed soundbites, but it strikes me that the more the company makes
moves towards being more responsible and transparent the louder its critics become–
and the harder they slam.

But surely there’s a need for a balanced response that recognises a positive leap
off the very naughty step whilst encouraging a climb towards the top of the stairs–
with the prospect of a slam if they don’t. Furthermore, we mustn’t forget our responsibility
as consumers when it comes to food waste. If you don’t need it, don’t buy it. However,
of course, when companies mess-up with “puppies for Christmas”, only a powerslam
and a good old moonsault will do.

In conclusion , I feel that charities that take a collaborative approach to working
in partnership with companies, whilst reserving the right to slam, are more likely
than pure slammers to move companies towards more sustainable business models.

### ⏎ Sources

 * **[Tesco tackles food waste](http://www.tescoplc.com/index.asp?pageid=17&newsid=881),
   21^(st) October 2013**
 * **[Charities slam Tesco over food waste ‘scandal’](http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/sectors/retail/charities-slam-tesco-over-food-waste-scandal/4008310.article)–
   Marketing Week, 21^(st) October 2013** 

## Comments

### By: Becky Slack

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2013/10/22/charities-working-partnership-with-retailers-must-reserve-their-right-slam/#comment-3915
- Published: 2015-05-17T19:15:00+01:00

Hi Totally agree with this sentiment. Constant negativity and criticism is only 
going to raise the hackles and draw down the shutters. After all, we know that those
kids who are told they’re useless and will amount to nothing go on to do just that.
Same applies to business. Working with business in partnership, and enabling them
to make a positive changes has to be the best way forward. The best way to engage
with business is to show them what’s in it for them. Business and society are so
intertwined, we need each other to be successful for ourselves to be successful.

### By: HowardLake

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2013/10/22/charities-working-partnership-with-retailers-must-reserve-their-right-slam/#comment-3916
- Published: 2016-02-17T21:58:00+00:00

Sadly Asda have, according to The Guardian, dropped their foodbank donation service:

[http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/feb/17/asda-removes-food-bank-donation-points-from-uk-stores](http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/feb/17/asda-removes-food-bank-donation-points-from-uk-stores)
Hence John Thompson’s reference to his blog post above: [https://twitter.com/JTCHANGINGBIZ/status/700075619816706048](https://twitter.com/JTCHANGINGBIZ/status/700075619816706048)