The fight against food poverty across the UK gets stronger, with many businesses working hard in the ongoing battle.
The UK’s leading food redistribution charity, FareShare, is helping lead that, with the charity’s ‘Surplus with Purpose’ scheme used by kind-hearted companies that donate to help those in need. The scheme works to cover the extra cost of redistributing unsold food that is still good to eat, preventing it from going to waste.
A number of businesses in the food supply chain contribute to this, with FareShare working with the food industry to redistribute surplus food to a network of 8,000 charities and community groups across the UK.
Two of those businesses are Cranswick Continental Foods, based in Bury, and Puffin Produce, the largest supplier of Welsh produce in Wales.
Cranswick started accessing the ‘Surplus with Purpose’ scheme in April 2022, redistributing a selection of foods including salami, prosciutto, cheese and pepperoni. Within the space of two years Cranswick had helped supply the equivalent of more than 800,000 meals.
Adam Bower, Head of Sustainability & ESG at Cranswick plc, said, “Food redistribution makes a crucial difference by reducing food waste, alleviating hunger, and fostering economic stability within our communities.
“By ensuring surplus food reaches those in need, it promotes sustainability, improves health outcomes, and strengthens social bonds through collaborative efforts.
“Ultimately, it embodies our commitment to creating a more equitable and resilient society for all.”
Puffin Produce started working with FareShare in 2020, providing surplus potatoes and leeks, and was recognised by FareShare as a Leading Food Partner back in 2022.
Matthew Thomas, Head of Sales and Marketing at Puffin Produce, said, “Reducing food waste is integral to us and if we can do this while helping charities across the UK, this is perfect synergy.
“FareShare helps so many vulnerable people and communities, it’s a fabulous organisation to support. If your food supply business has any surplus produce you would normally throw away, we’d urge you to think about how this product can be redistributed to help others and reduce waste.”
The UK’s leading rural insurer, NFU Mutual, is a supporter of FareShare and continues to throw its backing behind the campaign.
Since 2021, the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust has backed FareShare’s fight against food poverty and has donated a total of £350,000 to the charity.
Beth Pritchard, Community Engagement Consultant at NFU Mutual, said, “As the leading rural insurer, we have been championing the opportunity for growers and producers to support the surplus with purpose scheme to help ensure excess produce is redistributed to those who really need it – as NFU Mutual is proud to be a long-standing supporter of FareShare.
“It is important throughout the year – especially in January after the festive period – to continue supporting people facing food poverty where possible, and we applaud the whole team at Puffin Produce for their outstanding effort in backing the work FareShare does.”
FareShare’s ‘Surplus with Purpose’ fund contributes to the cost of harvest or transporting surplus food and can help your business identify surplus food that could be redirected to charities.