Tafel Deutschland (Germany) has launched a new initiative called the “Alliance for Food Rescue”, developed together with the regional food bank associations and the logistics company DACHSER Food Logistics. The initiative aims to recover surplus food directly from the food industry and redistribute it through the nationwide food bank network to people in need.
Recovering Food From Manufacturers and Processors
While German food banks already rescue large quantities of surplus food from retailers, the new alliance focuses on an important but often underused source: food manufacturers and processors. Significant amounts of perfectly edible food can arise earlier in the supply chain, for example due to production changes, packaging updates or surplus stock.
Through the Alliance, companies can donate these products in a structured and efficient way. DACHSER supports the initiative with professional logistics, collecting donations directly from producers and transporting them to central warehouses of the food bank network, from where they are distributed across Germany.
Rescuing Surplus Across the Entire Supply Chain
The initiative demonstrates how stronger cooperation between food banks, logistics providers and the food industry can unlock new sources of food donations. By rescuing surplus earlier in the supply chain, the programme aims to increase both the volume and variety of food available to people in need, while also reducing food waste.
