5 Reasons Businesses Should Donate Food

As any food retailer, producer or manufacturer knows, no matter how hard you try to reduce food waste, there will always be some level of surplus that ends up in the trash. Often, it’s perfectly safe, edible and delicious food that, for one reason or another, cannot be sold or otherwise distributed through regular channels.

One way to deal with that surplus is to sell it through FoodHero. Doing so not only prevents food waste, but it also enables you to make back a bit of money.

Another option is to donate food to local food banks. This may be preferable for large manufacturers or even restaurants where arranging pickup times isn’t ideal, or when your surplus is greater than the demand from FoodHero customers.

If you are a business that produces a food surplus, here are 5 amazing reasons to donate food

1. It promotes a positive image of your business within the communityMany businesses claim to care about their community. How many are putting that claim into action? Donating to local food banks or other food charities shows that you really do care about creating a better standard of living for the community. It shows that you’re conscious of the issues facing many individuals and families in the world today, and that you’re taking active steps to do your part.
2. Many consumers are more loyal to brands that support a causeWe all want to feel a part of something bigger and it’s nice to know when our everyday habits and purchases contribute to making the world a better place. When your business supports a worthy cause, such as providing food to those in need, your consumers become a part of that support as well. And when they feel good about their purchases, they’re more likely to come back again and again.
3. You may qualify for a tax credit or other financial incentiveAt the end of the day, your business needs to make money to keep going. Merchandise in the trash is lost revenue. But, depending on the regulations in your country, state or province, merchandise donated may qualify you for a tax credit or even a grant of some kind. People in need get good food, your business gets to recoup a little lost revenue.
4. You are creating a better future for childrenSadly, the number of children in need of food bank support is on the rise. When children have access to adequate amounts of nourishing food, they perform better in school, have less stress, are less prone to behavioural problems and overall have better odds of creating a positive future for themselves. And the more children around the world with positive futures ahead of them, the better the future looks for everyone.
5. You can potentially make a HUGE dent in food wasteFood waste impacts everyone. Including businesses. It’s not just the lost merchandise, but also the increasing cost of food and the damage to the planet. After all, with no planet, where would your business go? Donating surplus food keeps it out of landfills where it will produce harmful methane gas. Many food banks also recycle and compost, so any trimmings and packaging from your surplus food are also less likely to end up in landfills. The more we can reduce all kinds of waste, the better for everyone sharing this planet.

As much as we don’t like to think about it, the planet’s resources are not endless, and its continued ability to sustain life is not guaranteed. When we talk about extending the life of our planet, we’re really talking about extending the life of humanity. This big ol’ rock isn’t going anywhere, but its ability to support human life isn’t looking so good.

We all have a role in keeping our planet healthy. We simply don’t have surplus planets! 

Take a good look at your business and consider how you can take an active role in keeping our one and only home livable while making that life a little better for those currently on it. 

How heroic is that?