Unicomm, a member of the Selex Group, starts the first collection of frozen food products for people in need. The initiative was launched by two supermarkets of the affiliate Emisfero in Vicenza and Bassano del Grappa in collaboration with the Vicentine social cooperative Verlata Lavoro and is supported by state funding equal to 60% of the costs thanks to the announcement of the Ministry of Policies. Agricultural, Food and Forestry for innovative projects, relating to research and technological development, in the field of shelf life of food products and their packaging, aimed at limiting waste and using food surpluses. «Unicomm is the first reality of the Italian large-scale distribution to give life to a recovery operation of food products that are approaching the expiration date through freezing, it is a new frontier – explains Giancarlo Paola, general manager of Unicomm -. This is what we all do in our homes, but to be carried out on a large scale it requires suitable means to maintain the cold chain and an important and efficient distribution network. With “sub-zero surpluses” we are taking the first steps in this direction, with the intention of gradually extending it to all our stores ».
A good progress because generally it is possible to recover dry foods such as pasta and some fresh ones but with the new project it is possible to save fresher and more perishable products, but now close to expiry, such as meat, fish, fresh pasta. stuffed, sauces and sauces, ready-made first courses that will be frozen before the useful term for consumption. For the implementation of “sub-zero surpluses” Unicomm turned to Verlata Lavoro, with which already in 2015 it had participated in the Rebus project (Recovery of surplus goods that can be used jointly) for the recovery of unsold food surpluses in supermarkets and their subsequent distribution to people in economic difficulty.Pietro Ferrato, Unicomm manager with responsibility for food safety and hygiene “We are proud of the path taken together that has privileged the relationship with the territory, involving many associations and non-profit organizations in the Veneto region”. The distribution of the products already collected will take place in the coming weeks thanks to an already structured system: the Unicomm-Verlata agreement is, in fact, part of the network of the widespread solidarity Emporium accredited by the Veneto Region. In this initial phase, the recipients are families whose difficulty has been reported by the Social Services of the relevant municipalities, or homeless people in the municipality of Vicenza, the solidarity canteens and users of the individual non-profit organizations participating in the project. The Unicomm Group of Vicenza is a reality in the world of Italian large-scale distribution and is associated with the Selex Commercial Group. The company is owned by the Cestaro family and has a history of almost 70 years during which it has grown to reach, to date, over 7 thousand employees and to be present in 7 regions and 32 Italian provinces with more than 250 direct sales points. .
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