To mark the beginning of the Holy Month of Ramadan and in alignment with Zero Waste Day, Spinneys and the NGO Active Advocacy of Communities for Tomorrow (ACT) have launched the “Soup for the Soul” initiative as part of their ongoing partnership, which began in 2017, aimed at reducing food waste. This initiative seeks to provide nourishing soup to those in need, warming their bodies, hearts, and souls while integrating fasting traditions, sustainable practices, and community support.
As part of an ongoing seven-year partnership between Spinneys and the NGO, actively tackling food waste in Lebanon, Spinneys donates surplus fresh vegetables, fruits, and bread to charitable associations daily. These donations are then transformed into meals and distributed to families in need, simultaneously reducing food waste and aiding the local community. In this spirit of collaboration, this year’s “Soup for the Soul” received support from various social media influencers, who eagerly participated in its preparation and distribution to citizens across Lebanon. The soup distribution truck also sparked widespread citizen interaction and engagement across different neighborhoods in Beirut, Saida, and Tripoli.
In response to this initiative, Spinneys’ Chief Marketing Officer, Ralph el Kahi, commented: “We would like to reaffirm our commitment to our partnership with ACT, and pursue our collaboration in reducing food waste in Lebanon. This is especially important since its positive impacts and ramifications contribute to the betterment of society, both economically and socially. Looking forward, we aim to increase the reuse of surplus bread, fruits and vegetables for humanitarian purposes. This initiative is part of a successful ongoing daily collaboration with ACT, through which Spinneys has saved more than 1000 tons of fresh produce and 400 tons of bread from going to waste by donating them to charitable organizations over the past seven years.”
From the NGO’s part, founder Paula Abdel Hak expressed her gratitude to Spinneys and added: “We are pleased to be part of this humanitarian initiative during the Holy Month of Ramadan, and we’re proud of our ongoing partnership with Spinneys. It is a true pillar in developing sustainability and plays a key role in bringing about change in our society. Together we can make a difference and considerably reduce food waste, encouraging all stakeholders in our community to show solidarity and support our cause.”
It is important to note that Spinneys is the only store that has embraced ACT’s cause, aiming to raise awareness on the importance of reducing food waste at a national level, by reusing surplus food for humanitarian purposes. Additionally, the partnership is
deploying efforts to propose laws that incentivize food waste reduction across all concerned sectors.
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