Just Eat to work with food charity to bring thousands of meals to vulnerable on Black Friday

‘This time of year can be difficult for those who lonely or unable to buy food’

Volunteers will take fresh ingredients donated by local supermarkets and food outlets to cook three-course meals from scratch (Getty)

Hungry shoppers will be helping thousands of lonely people to enjoy a free meal when they order their takeaways this Black Friday.

Food delivery app Just Eat has teamed up with FoodCycle to raise money for meals which will aid those in need.

Just Eat will be bucking the discounting trend of Black Friday and donating 50p from every order made on 29th November to support the charity.

FoodCycle runs projects across the country serving meals made from surplus food which would otherwise have gone to waste.

Volunteers take fresh, raw ingredients donated by local supermarkets and food outlets and cook three-course meals from scratch, supporting low-income families, people affected by homelessness and those experiencing physical and mental health problems.

Black Friday isn’t just for shopping. It is also one of the busiest days for food deliveries as last year Just Eat processed over 1.5 million orders across the final weekend in November.

“Just Eat and FoodCycle are firm believers that this time of year can be difficult for those who lonely or unable to buy food,” said Andrew Kenny, UK managing director of Just Eat. “It’s a great feeling to know that the simple act of ordering the food you love – be it a Greggs vegan sausage roll, ramen, burrito or KFC – will go towards helping those in need.

2019 also marks the tenth anniversary of FoodCycle, and the year in which it served its millionth meal.

To date, FoodCycle has saved more than 425 tonnes of surplus food and supports 1,500 people every week in 41 projects across the country.

“When temperatures plummet, many find themselves making tough choices about whether to keep the heating or use precious pennies on cooking,” said CEO of FoodCycle, Mary McGrath. “Thanks to the generosity of the British public and Just Eat, we will be able to continue providing people who are struggling a free and nutritious meal served in a warm and friendly environment.”

She continued: “A huge thank you on behalf of our guests and from us here at FoodCycle for this incredible donation."

Just Eat has supported FoodCycle as its charity partner since 2017.

Last year a team of Just Eat employees trekked to Mount Everest Base Camp and completed a gruelling 127-mile bike ride from the company’s London office to its base in Bristol, raising over £50,000 for FoodCycle.

SWNS