Making Retail Rescue Stronger than Before

[Viable Food News Desk]

Publisher: Food Bank News
Published: September 9, 2026
Source: Read at Food Bank News
Category: Food Access

Several food banks are separating retail rescue from agency relations and assigning it to dedicated operations or procurement teams. Feeding San Diego moved retail rescue to its supply chain team. Since fiscal year 2022, the food bank has increased food rescued from stores by agencies from just under 15 million to more than 21 million pounds. Its four-person team manages 70 to 80 store relationships each and contributes to more than 1,000 pickups every week, with each pickup involving 300 to 400 pounds of food.

Why this matters: A dedicated retail rescue contact could make it easier for independent grocers and food agencies to coordinate donations, store visits, and pickups. The examples show food banks are treating store relationships as a distinct operational function rather than an add-on to agency services.

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