Millions of pounds of food and drink are at risk of going to waste after people in Scotland were urged to cancel Christmas parties for the second year in a row, a wholesaler trade body has said.
Colin Smith, chief executive of the Scottish Wholesale Association, said that Christmas food and drink was piling up in warehouses as wholesalers struggle to sell goods to hospitality venues facing mass cancellations.
The trade body, which represents 62 wholesalers, is helping its members to contact and distribute excess supplies to food banks and charities before much of it expires before the new year.
Efforts have been hindered as local organisations experience a “perfect storm” of donations from the public and from pubs, bars and restaurants with