Arla Foods has launched an innovative ‘Milk Bank ATM’ in London, marking a groundbreaking effort to address dairy accessibility.
- This initiative is part of a collaboration with Fareshare, aiming to combat dairy poverty and enhance access to fresh milk.
- The milk ATM is strategically located in North London, providing free fresh milk to passers-by at the push of a button.
- Arla commits to donating 100 fridges to Fareshare charities, ensuring proper storage for fresh dairy products.
- Fareshare reports increasing demand for nutritious dairy, met by this initiative’s infrastructural support.
Arla Foods has introduced the United Kingdom’s first free milk ATM in a unique collaboration with Fareshare, aiming to raise awareness of the ongoing issue of dairy poverty. The ‘Milk Bank ATM’, as it is called, provides an innovative solution for dispensing fresh milk to Londoners free of charge. Located in North London, this machine allows individuals to obtain fresh milk simply by pushing a button, symbolizing a practical step towards addressing food poverty.
Arla’s initiative is not just a pop-up event; it signifies the company’s nationwide commitment to provide refrigerated ‘Milk Banks’ across various charities in the UK. As part of this commitment, Arla will supply 100 fridges to Fareshare-charitable organizations, allowing these groups to store and distribute dairy products safely. This effort addresses a critical gap where many charities often lack adequate refrigeration facilities to preserve nutritious donations like milk.
Jonathan Dixon, Arla’s senior vice president, highlighted the mission to enhance dairy accessibility, stating, “Too many charities have to turn away fresh dairy donations because they have nowhere to store it, but by working with FareShare, we hope to overcome that.” This collaboration brings together Arla’s resources and Fareshare’s network to effectively tackle the infrastructure challenges faced by many food donation organizations.
Ben Ashmore, Fareshare’s head of external affairs, expressed the increased demand for refrigerated products among their charities. He noted that Arla’s contribution through the donation of fridges enables a wider range of nutritious foods to be available to beneficiaries, thus supporting a more diverse diet within communities. This initiative comes shortly after Arla’s announcement of a partnership with a major discounter to invest significantly in its dairy farmers over the coming years.
Arla’s pioneering initiative with the milk ATM and charitable partnerships effectively addresses dairy accessibility challenges while supporting food diversity.
