Cabildo Strengthens Food Donation Network with Mercadona and Calor y Café

The Cabildo is reinforcing a coordinated food donation programme with Mercadona and the Calor y Café association, combining waste reduction with social support for vulnerable residents across the island.

During 2025, a total of 26,000 kilos of food from Mercadona stores in Lanzarote was redistributed through the initiative. In just January and February 2026, a further 8,300 kilos had already been delivered.

Breaking down the figures by location, Mercadona’s Argana store contributed 10,100 kilos in 2025 and 4,400 kilos so far in 2026. Meanwhile, the Puerto del Carmen branch supplied 15,900 kilos last year and 3,900 kilos during the opening months of this year.

Cabildo president Oswaldo Betancort said the initiative forms part of a broader strategy focused on resource management, reducing food waste and strengthening social services through coordinated action.

He highlighted the importance of cooperation between public institutions, businesses and nonprofit organisations, stating that surplus food can be transformed into “a useful resource for people who need it on the island.”

The Councillor for Social Welfare and Inclusion, Marci Acuña, explained that the programme goes beyond occasional food donations and instead operates through “an organised system with daily collection, sorting and distribution,” ensuring products reach recipients in suitable condition.

Acuña also stressed the social dimension of the project, noting that it helps cover essential needs while also creating opportunities that encourage inclusion, particularly through collaboration with Calor y Café, an organisation with a long-established presence in Lanzarote.

Daily Collections and Reintegration Support

The initiative also includes a social intervention element linked to recovery and reintegration programmes. Participants assist with food collection, organisation and support tasks, helping them develop routines, responsibility and practical work-related skills.

Products are collected daily from participating stores and transported to Calor y Café’s facilities, where they are sorted before being used to prepare meals at the soup kitchen or distributed directly to families in need.

The system ensures that edible food which would otherwise leave the commercial chain is instead redirected to support local residents facing hardship.