Albertsons and Uber have launched a new food rescue initiative that aims to address food insecurity and food waste in several major U.S. cities. 

Albertsons announced Tuesday it tapped Uber Direct, the company’s white-label delivery solution, to establish a delivery program that donates surplus food from the grocer’s stores to local nonprofits and food banks. This latest food rescue effort is part of the 2024 White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities. 

Albertsons and Uber piloted the program in the Washington, D.C. area last year. Following that successful test, the companies are now expanding the initiative to select Star Market stores in Boston, Jewel-Osco locations in Chicago and Safeway stores in the Denver area, according to the announcement. 

Uber Direct’s network of delivery drivers will pick up and deliver the food donations from Albertsons stores to local food banks and nonprofit partners. 

When testing the initiative in the nation’s capital last year, more than 100 food donation deliveries went to local nonprofits, including The Father McKenna Center, House of Mercy and Tutoring Café, the press release noted. 

The partnership with Uber will streamline the delivery of excess food as well as ensure the food is donated to “those who need it most,” Albertsons Chief Sustainability Officer and Transformation Officer Suzanne Long said in a statement. 

More grocers are finding ways to avoid food waste by rerouting excess food to be donated. 

In April, Kroger’s meal kit arm Home Chef announced a new sustainability-focused program that redirects surplus food to local nonprofits, streamlining the food donation process for Home Chef’s four facilities.