Starbucks cuts prices to reduce waste

Starbucks has announced plans to offer 50% discounts on food “nearing expiry” in 350 stores across Britain.

The offers, available in the last hour of trading every day, follow a successful trial in 16 outlets in Manchester earlier this year.

All proceeds from the food that would otherwise have been thrown out will go to Action Against Hunger.

The programme “overcomes the legal and regulatory barriers around the safe transportation of fresh food items with a short remaining shelf-life, particularly for Starbucks stores, which typically see a comparatively lower volume of food waste than other restaurant retailers”, the company said in a statement.

Previous research conducted by Footprint and The University Caterers Organisation has shown that redistribution of food is a major challenge for foodservice operators.

In the US, Starbucks is aiming to donate 100% of its leftover food to charities.