Tesco supermarket, in Diss, has donated the equivalent of 136,000 meals to people in need

A Diss supermarket which has donated the equivalent of 136,000 meals to people in need is celebrating the impact it has made.

Tesco, in Victoria Road, is thanking customers and staff for their support of the store’s partnerships with Trussell and FareShare, which support local charities.

Trussell supports a nationwide network of food banks, providing emergency food parcels and practical help to people in crisis, while FareShare redistributes surplus food to charities and community groups, helping to reduce waste and feed vulnerable people.

At Diss Tesco, an in-store donation point has been set up with Trussell to support Waveney Foodbank. This initiative helps to provide food parcels and, since joining the programme several years ago, the store has donated the equivalent of approximately 136,000 meals.

Matt Scade, project manager at Waveney Foodbank, said: “We are incredibly grateful for the continued support from the Tesco Diss and its customers.

“The donations we receive help us to provide emergency food parcels to individuals and families facing crisis across the Waveney area. Tesco’s support plays a crucial role in helping us to meet this growing need.”

In addition, through the FareShare partnership the Diss store donates an estimated 100 kilograms of food each week to its charity partners – equivalent to around 200 meals weekly.

Local organisations benefiting from the programme include the Salvation Army, Hope Church, Diss Community Larder and two playgroups.

A driving force behind the efforts is Claire Damant, the store’s community champion.

“The most rewarding part of my role is seeing how many lives we touch every single day,” Claire said. “Whether it is providing a warm meal at Hope Church, seeing the excitement on children’s faces at Merryfield’s Nursery when they receive snacks and treats, or donating flowers to brighten someone’s day, it is all about community, compassion, and cutting down on waste.

“None of this would be possible without the incredible Diss Superstore team. We all take turns during our shifts to stack the donated items and make sure everything is properly compiled and labelled for FareShare collection. I am very proud of what we have built together here.”

Since 2020, the store has supported the Salvation Army with more than 5,000 meals, offering much-needed help during difficult times. Hope Church now receives donations twice a week, enabling them to serve free lunches to anyone in the community.

Beyond its charity partners, Tesco Diss has also donated fresh flowers, Christmas hampers, and helped coordinate deliveries from the Warburtons distribution centre, enabling even more supplies to reach those in need. Each Christmas, the store provides festive hampers to local charities, helping selected families enjoy a seasonal meal.