Tesco has responded after refusing to serve two men buying £200 worth of food for homeless and vulnerable people.
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tephen Peter Chamberlain and Michael Taub on Friday said that Tesco staff at a store in Brent Cross, London, prevented them from stocking up on groceries bound for food charity Saint Laurence’s Larder.
Stephen and Michael had got to the checkout with a trolley-full of produce and tinned goods, only to be told that they were buying too much.
Google On Wednesday, the Tesco store manager apologised to the pair and invited them to visit the branch to make amends.
We got an apology and admittance that it was a bad judgment call, Michael told Mirror Online.
Dean the manager was off on holiday last week and came back to a storm. He handled himself and the situation very well today.
Michael added: We at St. Laurence’s Larder are very satisfied at the outcome and look forward to feeding many people tomorrow and the coming weekend.
Michael said that Tesco gave him and Stephen a £100 gift voucher half of what he had originally intended to spend last week.
Michael Taub He added that the company is looking into adding the North London charity to its list of food connection program. Tesco donates excess food to initiatives and community groups.
We believe that no food that could be eaten should go to waste, the supermarket spiel reads on its website.
Where we have good quality surplus food, it is supplied to charities and community groups that help to feed those in need.
We [with Stephen] just bought loads of food for St. Laurence’s,” he said. “We still spent £200 and invited Tesco to visit us at the larder, which they have agreed to do.
Mirror Online / Michael Taub Michael and Stephen are volunteers at Saint Laurence’s Larder, a community set-up which takes donations from individuals, religious organisations and groups such as the Felix Project, which works with suppliers to redistribute excess food.
The organisation feeds up to 90 people every week who are in need of a decent meal.