Carrefour, Food Banking Kenya partner to combat waste and boost food security

KENYA – Carrefour Kenya has entered into a landmark partnership with Food Banking Kenya (FBK) to redistribute surplus food to vulnerable communities, addressing two of Kenya’s most pressing issues, food waste and hunger.

The collaboration, sealed through a memorandum of understanding, will see Carrefour donate edible surplus food, including bakery products, dry groceries, and long-shelf items, for redistribution through FBK’s nationwide network of accredited charities.

Fresh goods will be collected daily, while dry items such as rice, cereals, and lentils will be dispatched within four days to ensure quality and traceability.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Kenya loses nearly 30% of its food supply annually, valued at over US$500 million, even as 15 million citizens face food insecurity.

Carrefour’s initiative aims to correct this imbalance by transforming surplus into support while reducing its environmental footprint.

“By transforming surplus into support, we are reducing waste while strengthening Kenya’s food security,” said Christophe Orcet, Majid Al Futtaim Retail’s Regional Director for East Africa.

He added that the move exemplifies Carrefour’s vision of “responsible retail” through transparent, scalable redistribution systems.

FBK’s Executive Director, John Gathungu, hailed the collaboration as a milestone in Kenya’s food rescue efforts, noting that each ton of surplus food recovered can provide over 2,000 meals.

With Carrefour’s growing national presence in Nairobi, Kisumu, and Mombasa, the initiative could redirect thousands of tonnes of food annually while supporting Kenya’s Sustainable Waste Management Act (2022) and SDG 12.3 target to halve food waste by 2030.

Carrefour’s program aligns with similar retailer-led sustainability efforts globally. In South Africa, Shoprite’s “Act for Change” program donates unsold but safe food to hundreds of community organizations, rescuing millions of meals annually.

In Egypt, Carrefour has partnered with the Egyptian Food Bank to channel excess food to underprivileged families, while Tesco UK and Woolworths Australia operate real-time redistribution systems that link surplus stock directly to food relief partners.

These models highlight a broader industry trend toward circular retail, where waste reduction becomes embedded in supply chain management.

For Kenya, Carrefour’s partnership not only sets a benchmark for structured food recovery but also demonstrates how private-sector innovation can advance national sustainability goals, turning what was once waste into a lifeline for millions.

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