Albertsons Companies and Uber Partner Together To Deliver Surplus Food to Neighbors in Need

Rhea-AI Summary

Albertsons Companies and Uber Technologies announced a new food rescue initiative aimed at combating food insecurity and reducing food waste. This program, which began as a pilot in Washington, D.C., utilizes Uber Direct to deliver surplus food from Albertsons stores to local non-profits and food banks. The initiative has now expanded to Boston, Chicago, and Denver, involving stores like Star Market, Jewel-Osco, and Safeway. Albertsons aims to streamline the process of donating excess food, ensuring it reaches those in need. The program is part of the 2024 White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities.

Positive

• Expansion of food rescue initiative to Boston, Chicago, and Denver.
• Utilization of Uber Direct for efficient food delivery to non-profits.
• Partnership aligns with the 2024 White House Challenge to End Hunger.
• Successful pilot program in Washington, D.C. with over 100 food deliveries.
• Albertsons' commitment to reducing food waste and supporting local communities.

Negative

• The initiative's success depends heavily on logistical execution and coordination.
• Potential challenges in scaling the program to additional cities.

New food rescue initiative fights food insecurity and reduces food waste

BOISE, ID / ACCESSWIRE / June 12, 2024 / Albertsons Companies and Uber Technologies, Inc. today announced an ambitious food rescue initiative as part of the 2024 White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities. The program, piloted last year in the Washington, D.C. area, utilizes Uber Direct, Uber's white-label delivery solution, to create a reliable delivery program to donate surplus food from Albertsons Cos. stores to local non-profit organizations and food banks. Building on the initiative's success in Washington, D.C., the food rescue program has now expanded to Boston, Chicago and Denver to reduce food waste and fight food insecurity in these local communities.

"At Albertsons Cos., we are committed to making a real difference in the communities we serve and the planet we share," said Suzanne Long, Chief Sustainability and Transformation Officer at Albertsons Cos. "We are thrilled to partner with Uber to streamline the delivery of excess food to our partner food recovery organizations, ensuring that the food donated from our stores gets to those who need it most. Together, we can reduce food waste and feed our neighbors in need."

The food rescue program has expanded to select Star Market stores in Boston, Jewel-Osco stores in Chicago and Safeway stores in the Denver area. Albertsons Cos. stores will deliver food donations through Uber Direct's network of delivery people, who pick up and deliver food to local non-profit organizations and food banks including Greater Boston Food Bank in Boston, St. Cletus Food Pantry in Chicago and Food Bank of the Rockies in Denver.

"After a successful pilot in the Washington, D.C. region, we're thrilled to continue to use our technology to improve the lives of community members in Boston, Chicago and Denver," said Julia Paige, Head of Global Social Impact at Uber. "No individual or family should ever have to experience hunger, and we're proud to work with partners like Albertsons Cos. to help provide access to nutritious foods."

In Washington, D.C. and the surrounding region, more than 1.2 million people* are food insecure. Since the food rescue initiative from Albertsons Cos. and Uber launched last year, more than 100 food donation deliveries have been made to D.C.-area nonprofit organizations, including The Father McKenna Center, House of Mercy and Tutoring Café.

"This program has been a tremendous blessing for our community, as we provide essential food assistance to more than 100 households every week through our food pantry," said Emily Dold, Food Pantry Manager at The Father McKenna Center. "Our dedicated food pantry team, although small, juggles various responsibilities throughout the day, which sometimes leaves them unable to collect donations from the grocery stores promptly. We are so grateful for our partnership with Albertsons Cos. and Uber. The food donated brings joy. It brings relief. It nourishes and heals. We have been able to offer better food options to our patrons."

*Facts About Hunger in Washington, DC

See original press release here and read more about Albertsons Companies and our Recipe for Change on our website.

The new initiative utilizes Uber Direct to create a reliable delivery program to donate surplus food from Albertsons Companies stores to local non-profit organizations and food banks. Photo Courtesy: Uber

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Albertsons Companies on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:
Spokesperson: Albertsons Companies
Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/albertsons-companies
Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Albertsons Companies

View the original press release on accesswire.com

FAQ

What is the new initiative by Albertsons Companies and Uber?

Albertsons Companies and Uber have partnered to launch a food rescue initiative to deliver surplus food to local non-profits and food banks, reducing food waste and fighting food insecurity.

Which cities are included in the Albertsons and Uber food rescue program?

The food rescue program includes Boston, Chicago, Denver, and began as a pilot in Washington, D.C.

What service does Uber provide for the Albertsons food rescue initiative?

Uber Direct is utilized to create a reliable delivery program for transporting surplus food from Albertsons stores to local non-profits and food banks.

What is the aim of the Albertsons and Uber partnership?

The partnership aims to reduce food waste and fight food insecurity by delivering surplus food to those in need, aligning with the 2024 White House Challenge to End Hunger.