Foodbanks to get boost from supermarket

File photo / NZ Herald

Christmas has come early for food banks which are about to receive gifts from a major supermarket chain.

Countdown says it's no longer going to throw out food it can't sell but will donate it to the Salvation Army instead.

Salvation Army spokesman Robert Ross says it includes non-perishable foods which are still safe to eat such as flour, canned goods, rice and other such items.

Mr Ross says in the year to September, the Salvation Army gave away almost 67,000 food parcels.