Tesco has revealed that it will offer its staff surplus food from its stores as part of its drive to become a zero waste retailer this year.

Store workers will be able to take away the surplus food that is still fit for human consumption if Tesco is unable to find a charity or local community group that wants it.

Dubbed Colleague Shops, Tesco plans to install dedicated fridges and storage areas in staff rooms from which workers can select products they want to take home.  Staff will initially be charged 1p per item, although Tesco plans to drop this charge later in the year.

Mark Little, Head of Sustainability, Sourcing and Waste Policy at Tesco, said: “We want to do everything we can to make sure perfectly good food doesn’t go to waste. Our Colleague Shops are a win-win, providing an additional step to support our efforts to tackle food waste in our own operations, and offer colleagues an extra little help at the end of their shift.”