Albertsons, Uber partner to deliver surplus food to neighbors in need
Albertsons and Uber Technologies 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 metro area, utilizes Uber Direct, Uber’s white-label delivery solution, to create a reliable delivery program to donate surplus food from Albertsons’ stores to local non-profit organizations and food banks. Building on the initiative’s success, 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. “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’ 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.
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“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 and the surrounding region, more than 1.2 million people are food insecure. Since the food rescue initiative from Albertsons 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.”
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