A partnership between food retailers and FareShare has redirected 22,000 tonnes of food – the equivalent of 57m meals – to organisations including community centres, schools and food banks.
According to analysis by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and the food waste charity, over 8,000 charities benefitted from the scheme which helped almost one million people between 2022 and 2023.
As well as surplus food from shops and distribution centres, FareShare redistributed over 1,000 tonnes of food donated directly by supermarket customers through retail donation boxes.
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The surplus donated from food retailers is estimated to have helped prevent over 15,000 tonnes of CO2e from being wasted.
BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “The work by FareShare and the major food retailers is supporting households around the country at a difficult time. Not only does this initiative help to get food to those who need it the most, but it also helps reduce waste and cut harmful climate emissions.”
FareShare CEO George Wright added: “We simply would not be able to support our network of charities and community groups without supermarkets.
“This food is crucial at a time when millions are being forced into food insecurity. In times of crisis our retail partners have stepped up to help distribute the equivalent of millions of meals which would have otherwise gone to waste.”
Earlier this month, senior leaders from the UK food industry including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda joined forces to support the Coronation Food Project, pledging to reduce and redistribute surplus food waste.
Inspired by King Charles III, the project will be delivered in partnership with FareShare across the UK and intends to support the 13m people in the UK already experiencing food insecurity.
This also comes as Asda is donating the equivalent of one million breakfast meals to mark 10 years of its partnership with FareShare.
