Co-op to fight food waste with pre-closing time donation scheme

Retailer will give fresh produce to community groups two hours before stores close

The Co-op is to end "last-minute" sales of fresh produce to reduce the volume of edible food going to waste in its stores every day.

Two hours before closing time, the national supermarket chain will remove items with a use by or best before date for that day, so they can be donated to thousands of charities and small community groups in time for them to be frozen or turned into meals.