Missão Continente donated more than 162 000 euros in surplus food to 43 charities and animal welfare organisations in the Azores archipelago in the first six months of this year.
These results were released as part of the celebrations for International Food Loss and Waste Awareness Day on 29 September.
Missão Continente donated 15.3 million euros in food and non-food products to 1,049 institutions across the country. In surplus food alone, this support totalled 13.6 million euros, the equivalent to more than 5.5 million meals saved.
Donated items are considered surplus when they lose their commercial character but preserve all the necessary conditions for safe consumption, avoiding food waste in a circular economy logic. These include fresh produce such as fruit, vegetables, groceries and bakery items, among other foodstuffs.
This year Missão Continente celebrates its 20th anniversary and the work of reusing and redistributing surplus food dates back to 1994. Currently, all Continente shops have partnerships with various charities and animal welfare organisations and donations are made on a daily basis throughout the year.
Missão Continente represents all of Continente's social responsibility initiatives, such as Community Support, Inclusive Development and Environmental Citizenship, with the aim of contributing to a more sustainable future.