AN ABERYSTWYTH restaurant has cut its food waste in half after joining a new campaign.

Shilam Tandoori on Alexandra Road, the second restaurant opened by owner Mohammed Somir, has helped pilot the ‘Your Business is Food, don’t throw it away’ food waste reduction campaign, run by the British Hospitality Association and food sustainability experts WRAP Cymru.

The campaign was adopted at seven restaurants and hotel businesses across Wales to help businesses reduce food waste from kitchen through to plate and increase profits.

Using Your Business is Food materials, Mr Somir and his staff trailblazed a ‘Doggy Box’ scheme supported by WRAP Cymru where customers can take any leftover food with them to enjoy at home.

Mr Somir advocated greater customer engagement to improve overall experience and also to prevent over-ordering and the subsequent waste of food.

By being more efficient with food, the businesses found they could not only contribute to helping the environment through less landfill waste, but also increase profits through reduced operating, purchasing and waste disposal costs.

Mr Somir is so impressed with the campaign he will now encourage other businesses to take it up.

He said: “Your Business Is Food resources make perfect sense. Get the brochures, it is so simple and it’s good to help both the environment and your business.”

Hugh Jones, WRAP Cymru programme area manager, said: “Tackling food waste within a business has real returns on the bottom line, and usually requires simple refining of existing working practices to have results."

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