The UK wasted 9.5 million tonnes of food last year*

We think we can do better.

*Food Waste in the UK, Lords Library, UK Parliament, 2020.

Surplus

Waste not. Want not.

According to a study by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), the UK is responsible for 9.52 million tonnes of food waste per year. That’s enough food waste to fill 190 Royal Albert Halls, and weighs more than 112 million average British men, which is – incidentally – four times the amount of men that live in the UK. This wasted food is disposed of during the manufacture process, by the retail and hospitality sectors, and by households all over the country.

Food Poverty

Let’s call this what it is.

Despite being the 6th richest country in the world, the UK’s food poverty rate is one of the highest in Europe. According to the latest government statistics, millions are struggling to access the food they need, with a recorded 4.2 million people (6%) living in food poverty in 2020 to 2021, including a staggering 9% of all children. With the current cost of living crisis, the situation is set to get worse with the UK’s reliance on food banks increasing rapidly. Thousands of food bank workers and volunteers signed an open letter to Liz Truss calling for “urgent help” as they face “breaking point”. The situation currently remains unchanged under the Sunak administration.

Why We Exist

Sometimes the most complicated problems have the simplest solutions.

It’s very rare that two problems can cancel each other out. The surplus of food from production can very easily offset the problem of food poverty in the UK. It just requires a rethink towards the way that things are done, and a channel of communication opened between those that discard, and those that need.

How We Operate

Effective and compassionate don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

We respect our suppliers, and our suppliers respect us, because they know that managing surplus food properly is great for business. That respect is also carried through in our relationships with our beneficiaries – high quality food at more than reasonable prices.

What We Do

Making a difference, one food parcel at a time.

In a nutshell, we take surplus food from large-scale organisations that have no requirement for it, and distribute it among charities and community organisations that need it.