Wholesaler Brakes and food redistribution charity FareShare has seen enough surplus food diverted to provide five million meals for vulnerable people over their ten year partnership.
Over the last decade Brakes has redistributed over 2,000 tonnes of fresh produce, meat and frozen foods via FareShare’s UK network of food warehouses. During the Coronavirus pandemic Brakes acted quickly to donate 535,000 meals to thousands of frontline charities.
Hugo Mahoney, chief executive of Brakes, said: “We are passionate about delivering a better tomorrow through our CSR focus areas. We're proud to have been frequently recognised by our industry for what we've achieved in reducing waste and packaging as well as improving sustainability.
“While we work hard to minimise surplus food, there are times when it is unavoidable and, when it is, we have a valued and longstanding partnership with FareShare to ensure that it reaches the tables of our nation’s most vulnerable people.
“We are proud to support FareShare’s work, which has never been more important or needed than over the past few months in helping to provide for those families whose lives have been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The FareShare Surplus with Purpose Fund aims to reduce food waste by making it ‘cost neutral’ for businesses to divert food to surplus charities rather than making the excess food animal feed. So far the fund has enabled FareShare to distribute an additional 12,000 tonnes of surplus food to charities.
Lindsay Boswell, chief executive of FareShare, added: “The enormous range of fresh food we receive from the Brakes network goes to thousands of charities and community groups across the UK, helping them to get good food onto the plates of those who are most vulnerable.
“Brakes’ support has been critical over the course of the crisis, with demand from frontline charities more than tripling. We’re grateful to Brakes for their longstanding support and commitment to doing the right thing with their surplus food – ensuring it feeds people first.”