Stëmm Caddy Tackles Hunger, Food Waste and Unemployment

On Thursday 4 February 2016, Luxembourg Minister of Health Lydia Mutsch joined the senior direction of non-profit organisation Stëmm vun der Strooss, the director of Auchan supermarket and representatives of the Vodafone Foundation in presenting a charitable project which has seen 300 food packages freely distributed each week to those in need since February 2014.

When Stëmm vun der Strooss moved to new premises in Hollerich in November 2013, the opportunity presented itself for the former restaurant in Bonnevoie to be transformed to cater to a new activity. Entitled 'Stemm Caddy', the project has not just provided access to food for those who would otherwise go hungry, but has also enabled 22 people to find work driving each day to Auchan to pick up the specially designated products and helping to prepare sadnwiches, food packs, soup and fruit juices.

In 2014, 109 tonnes of fruit and vegetables, bread, dry goods, pastries, meat and dairy products were distributed at the organisation's social restaurants in Luxembourg and Esch-sur-Alzette - a figure which in 2015 grew to 148 tonnes. The disadvantaged, for example those living on the streets or in emergency shelters, are unable to prepare food properly and Stemm Caddy therefore seeks to provide these individuals with directly consumable products to ensure that they are eating healthily.

The Vodafone Foundation has been an important actor in helping the needs to be met, having donated €40,000 to the establishment of the project in 2013 with the purchase of a refrigerated van for deliveries, as well as a further €46,400 in November 2015 which allowed SVDS to buy a second van and cater to growing demand. The transformation of the Bonnevoie site in November 2015 required €40,000, and involved a refurbishing of the cellar, the installation of a refrigeration unit allowing for the storage of meat and the creation of a laundry room and storage area.

A partnership started in 2009 between Auchan supermarket and Stëmm vun der Strooss in 2009 has provided solutions to dual problems, by establishing a useful rather than wasteful outlet for Auchan products approaching their expiry date whilst guaranteeing food security for the poor.

"Our 'Quality-Freshness' charter provides for the withdrawal of food products in enough time before their use-by date to allow customers the time to consume them, so we remove for example yoghurts and packaged meats before their use-by date, which gives us the opportunity to give them to the association," explained Auchan Director, Marc Gueuzurian. "Our desire has always been to further this approach according to the rhythm of the needs of the association and its ability to process and distribute the products in respect of food security. First of all, we gave bread, dry goods, fruit and vegetables, and then quickly to association structured itself and obtained the permits necessary to recive dairy and meat products."

Auchan and Stëmm vun der Strooss also teamed up for a fund-raising campaign in late 2015, whereby a small team wrapped Christmas presents for Auchan customers, who were then able to offer a tip. This project alone raised a further €7,000 for those in need.