AB Vassilopoulos & Boroume: a long-term relationship of substantial support and love

On the occasion of today's World Food Day we would like to express a big thank you to AB Vassilopoulos, one of our most important collaborators and the biggest food donor of Boroume in years.

Our collaboration started in 2013 when we created a system of daily donation of all products of an AB store that met all food safety standards, but unfortunately could no longer be used commercially, to nearby charitable institutions. We started our cooperation with 3 pilot stores, and we soon increased the number of participating stores with the aim, within the next years from the start of the project, that all AB stores in every corner of Greece would save & offer what they can on a daily basis!

The result of this original collaboration is truly admirable as millions of portions of food have been saved & donated to hundreds of charities across the country. These rescued foods are equivalent to an extremely positive environmental impact as they did not end up in landfills so they did not release tons of methane into the atmosphere. Finally, these foods have substantially supported all of these charities, covering in many cases up to all of the charities’ needs in food.

AB Vassilopoulos has been with us in all the major information events that we have implemented from 2013 until today, offering the necessary food and materials, thus significantly reducing the cost of the overall event for Boroume, thus increasing the chances for the event to take place.

When our organization was in a difficult position as it was forced to move away from its office in Monastiraki, where it started its activities in 2012, AB Vassilopoulos immediately and on favorable terms offered a property for the creation of the new House of Boroume.

Finally, when after years of trying to create a national alliance to reduce food waste we were almost in despair, as it was not possible to find the initial funding to start this initiative, AB Vassilopoulos supported us again. Without delay and with full confidence in Boroume, they secured the initial funding and in this way it became possible to create, perhaps, the stronger, and, certainly, the most ambitious food waste reduction program in Greece. The "Alliance for the Reduction of Food Waste" in Greece, after a year of preparation is now a fact and from September 29, 2020 officially began its work, bringing to the same table for the first time in Greece all stakeholders, such as e.g. the Ministry of Environment, universities, Civil Society Organsisations and many food companies of the country.

For all the above but also all the smiles and laughs that we have shared over the past years, we wish to express a huge thank you to AB Vassilopoulos with the hope of co-creating even more beneficial actions for the environment and society in the future.