SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE 7 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
In 2024, Mercadona has successfully ensured that all its outlets in the Canary Islands provide fresh products to 50 charities daily, a practice it initiated over a decade ago and has progressively expanded to all its supermarkets.
The collaboration with the Red Cross has broadened, alongside the inclusion of organisations such as the Salvation Army and the Superacció Foundation in 2024 to this distribution network, which receives food items including fruit, vegetables, dairy, meat, and fish every morning, from Monday to Saturday.
These items, while fit for consumption, are deemed unsuitable for sale and are delivered under optimal conditions of quality and food safety.
These charities join other organisations that Mercadona already assists, such as the Nuestra Señora del Carmen and La Milagrosa soup kitchens; distribution entities including the Red Cross or Cáritas; and organisations like Activa Vida Obra Social and Asociación Reto a La Esperanza, which aim not only to feed their clients but also to encourage their independence.
Moreover, alongside this mode of collaboration carried out from its own stores, the company nurtures a strong relationship with the Food Banks of Las Palmas and Tenerife, to which it donates 30 tonnes of food annually, reflecting its commitment to aiding the most vulnerable.
Deliveries are tailored to the specific requirements of each entity, ensuring that they receive precisely the type of products they require at the time needed, thereby addressing the genuine needs of the individuals they support, the company states in a report.
In total, Mercadona has contributed 810 tonnes of essential products in 2024, equivalent to 13,500 shopping trolleys.
NOT ONLY FOOD
Mercadona’s commitment has extended beyond mere food donations. The company has also collaborated in 2024 with various charities that required logistical support to execute their activities.
For instance, the Canarian Flora Acoge Foundation received a van from Mercadona this year to enhance its food distribution efforts.
This delivery marked another significant step in Mercadona’s involvement with the La Sereta Project, from which it has been receiving fresh produce from two supermarkets daily.
Mercadona’s partnership with the Canaria Flora Acoge Foundation, which commenced towards the end of 2019, has enabled the organisation to substantially increase its capacity to assist the 107 families it serves.
The Karuna Maspalomas Charitable Association, which operates in San Bartolomé de Tirajana, has also benefitted from Mercadona’s contributions.
In this instance, over 1,000 pairs of trousers were donated to the most disadvantaged individuals in the area.
Additionally, the supermarket chain joined forces this year for the Spring Collection campaign, organised by the Food Banks of Las Palmas and Tenerife from 24 May to 2 June, through which Mercadona and its customers raised 38,000 euros for complete transformation into food supplies.
In this most recent edition, Mercadona made its 85 stores in the Canary Islands available to the initiative, coordinating various activities to facilitate customer monetary donations, in increments of 1 euro, at the checkout during their purchases.
