Coles has initiated its annual Christmas Appeal to support SecondBite, an Australian food rescue organisation. The appeal aims to provide food for Australians in need during the holiday season.

Customers can support SecondBite by purchasing a $2 donation card at any Coles supermarket. Each card sold enables SecondBite to provide up to ten meals to charity partners.

SecondBite CEO Daniel Moorfield, said: “We all know that Christmas is a time of celebration, but unfortunately, it can also be a tough time for many Aussies who are struggling to put food on the table. By supporting the Coles SecondBite Christmas Appeal you can help make a genuine difference. The funds raised will help us provide ongoing food relief to those who need it most and address the increased need that our charity partners face over the holidays. Many of our frontline partners don’t stop their services over Christmas - in fact, it can be their busiest time as people turn to them for a meal and social support.”

Limited-edition Remedy Pavlova or Merry Cherry Kombucha are available for purchase, with 20 cents from each 330ml bottle sold going to SecondBite. DASH Water will donate 20 cents to the Coles SecondBite Christmas Appeal for every DASH Sparkling Water four-pack sold at Coles from 27 November to 24 December 2024. Cadbury Australia will donate the equivalent of one million meals to the Appeal. Donations are also being accepted at all Liquorland, First Choice Liquor Market and Vintage Cellars stores, or by purchasing Local Brewing Co.’s Surplus Citrus Hazy Pale at Vintage Cellars or First Choice Liquor Market with 40 cents from every four-pack sold going to the cause.

The Christmas Appeal also supports sustainability initiatives to reduce food waste, with DASH Water infused with wonky fruit and Local Brewing Co. using Coles Brand bread that would otherwise go to landfill.

Coles Chief Commercial and Sustainability Officer, Anna Croft, said: “Coles has been a proud partner of SecondBite for more than 13 years and together with our customers and suppliers Cadbury, Remedy, DASH Water and Local Brewing Co., we are aiming to raise enough funds this Christmas to help provide the equivalent of over five million meals to help feed Australians in need. SecondBite plays such an important role in local communities across Australia, particularly over the holiday period when the need is heightened, and we hope customers can show their support by purchasing a $2 donation card or a participating product at Coles this Christmas Appeal.”

SecondBite, founded nearly 20 years ago, currently reaches more than 1,000 local community partners across Australia. Coles has been a partner of SecondBite for over 13 years and has donated the equivalent of more than 270 million meals to SecondBite since 2011. In the last financial year alone, Coles stores and distribution centres donated over 18,200 tonnes of unsold, edible food to SecondBite. The Coles SecondBite Christmas Appeal will run from Wednesday 27 November to Tuesday 24 December 2024.