Bet won, bet handed over: REWE Group, together with REWE and PENNY, supported the Federal Table Meeting in Mannheim and donated two lorry loads of food. The urgently needed support for people affected by poverty was preceded by an agreement.
Under the motto "Mannheim dances, the Tafel wins", Jochen Brühl, outgoing Chairman of Tafel Deutschland, made a bet with the Lord Mayor of the City of Mannheim, Dr Peter Kurz. At least 200 people were to perform a dance choreography on Mannheim's market square. Around 300 people, including members of many carnival clubs from Mannheim and the region, supported the campaign on 10 May with their physical commitment. So, bet won!
Last Saturday (8 July, as part of the "Lange Tafel" programme), REWE and PENNY handed over the bet of 24 tonnes of long-life food.
Reaffirmed REWE Group's commitment to the food bank at the members' meeting the previous evening: Nicola Tanaskovic, Head of Corporate Responsibility at REWE Group I Photo: Philip Wilson
Everyone was welcome
Anyone could take a seat at the table at the Bundestafeltreffen. In addition to free food and drinks, some of which were sponsored by the REWE Group, the band "Eis am Stiel" entertained the guests. Comedian Bülent Ceylan helped serve the food. The programme was hosted by television presenter and Tafel ambassador Jörg Pilawa. With the "Long Table", the more than 960 German food banks wanted to set an example of solidarity and confidence.
"Tafel Deutschland is celebrating its 30th birthday this year. REWE Group has been working closely and trustingly with the food banks and the umbrella organisation since 1996. This makes us one of the first active supporters from the food retail sector nationwide. REWE and PENNY sell around 98 per cent of their food. We give the majority of the remainder, which can no longer be sold but can still be consumed without hesitation, to the food banks and thus make an effective joint contribution against food waste," said Nicola Tanaskovic, Head of Corporate Responsibility at REWE Group. "We would like to thank the food banks and the thousands of volunteers there."
"The number of food bank customers has risen significantly as a result of war and inflation - the food banks are currently supporting more people affected by poverty than ever before in their 30-year history. The food banks take responsibility and send out a clear signal against poverty and food waste. However, food banks are not part of the welfare state system. It is almost unbearable and unacceptable to see that help is not enough and that the necessary support for people in poverty is lacking from those who are actually responsible. With the public 'Long Table' in Mannheim, we are raising awareness and calling on politicians to take a closer look and stop allowing people to be marginalised in our rich country," said Jochen Brühl, the outgoing Chairman of Tafel Deutschland.
Number of people in need on the rise
"More and more people in our region cannot afford basic things like a healthy diet: the unemployed, low-income workers, pensioners, single parents, children and young people as well as a growing number of refugees. This makes the work of the food banks and, above all, their volunteers all the more important. REWE has been supporting the food banks, such as the Tafel Mannheim, with food almost every day for many years. As an expression of our appreciation for the outstanding voluntary commitment, we are handing over twelve tonnes of long-life food," says Tobias Menig, Chairman of the REWE Südwest management.
Klaus-Peter von Nethen, Head of the PENNY Southwest Region, added: "PENNY has been committed to the food banks throughout Germany since 2007. We are showing our solidarity with people affected by poverty, who need our support more than ever. And we are very actively committed to combating food waste, which is why our cooperation with the food banks is a matter close to our hearts. Food should benefit people and not be destroyed just because it has a bruise or the best-before date expires in a few days. With this in mind, we are also donating twelve tonnes to Tafel Mannheim on behalf of our nationwide commitment."
