🤝 What is the Central Co-op and Olio partnership?
Central Co-op is working with Olio to get surplus food from stores directly into the hands of local people. Central Co-op is a separate partnership from Co-op Group and Midcounties Co-op, so the rules on this page apply to Central Co-op stores only.
🥕 What food can be collected?
You can collect surplus food that's within its Use By date and safe to eat, including fresh produce, chilled, ambient, and labelled bakery. Always follow your store's existing food safety guidance.
⚠️ A note on bakery items
Central Co-op stores can donate bakery items, but only if store colleagues have packaged and labelled them first. Loose, unlabelled bakery, like a bag of mixed pastries with no dates or labels, can't be accepted.
If you receive labelled bakery items, list them using the name shown on the label, not as "loose bakery".
⏰ What time are collections?
Collections take place 15 minutes before the store's closing time. If you don't receive a confirmation message, assume there's no food available and don't attend your collection.
🪪 How do store colleagues verify a collector?
Show your Volunteer ID from the Volunteer Hub when you arrive at the store.
💬 Feedback and issues
If you have questions or experience a problem with your collection, fill out an Issue Report Form under "My Collections" on the Volunteer Hub. Please also share feedback, stories, and photos in your squad chat. We love to hear them! 💚
Not sure which Co-op you're collecting from? See Co-op: which partnership am I collecting from?