Around 50 stores have added a food bank collection point following a campaign in support of the Trussell Trust by the Post Office and Payzone.

Retailers partnered with the in-store service firms can receive free promotional material highlighting the charitable service, while Payzone has also provided guidance on how to get started.

The advice includes, working with the local food bank to agree collection or delivery terms and times, using a box, basket or trolley as the collection point, promoting it to customers and offering discounts or match-funding on donated goods.

Stores previously described food bank collection points as a win-win, with customer purchases for use in the food banks growing sales while also helping a worthy cause. Sainsbury’s even uses shelf edge labels on ‘priorty items’ to encourage customers to add an item to their basket for donation as part of their shopping routine.

Commenting on the scheme, Payzone managing director Andrew Goddard told Better Retailing: “We’re delighted to be working with the Trussell Trust and many of our outlets have set up food bank collection points this year. We have posters and other materials that can be provided to any outlet that wants to set up a collection point and they advise customers what food item donations are required.”

Senior figures at the firm and other convenience groups have also taken part in sponsored bike rides during the pandemic to raise funds for the Trussell Trust and Mines Advisory Group (MAG). Attendees of a 47 mile ride around London on 25 September, including Goddard, visited various Payzone and Post Office sites on their way.

Goddard told Better Retailing: “I and some of my colleagues and sponsors have spent the past few weeks on our Cycle4Change tour across the country visiting Payzone retailers and Post Office branches and collecting food items for the charity. We’ve seen first-hand the difference we can all make to help end food hunger in the UK and will have collected nearly 1ton of food for those customers most in need.”

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