The Felix Project saves 150k meals from going to waste

WIM works with up to 100 individual traders who sell fruit and vegetables across the UK and Europe. Its partnership with The Felix Project has prevented about 63 tonnes of food from going to waste, the equivalent of 150,000 meals, so far.

Richard Smith, head of food supply at The Felix Project believed the partnership could secure about 550 tonnes of food in the first year alone – around 1.3 million meals.

“This means thousands more people could benefit,”​ said Smith. “The team here have been so generous, giving us free office space and welcoming us as part of the family, we are already building excellent relationships with the traders which will hopefully mean we can ensure even more food is redistributed to those in desperate need.”​

Cut food waste and improve sustainability

WIM Market said that working with The Felix Project will enable it to cut potential food waste significantly and improve sustainability.

Keith Ward, chairman of the WIM Tenants Association explained: “Our members sell thousands of tonnes of produce every day, but as with any mass produce market there is a small element of fruit and vegetables which cannot be retailed but are still fit for consumption.​

“Previously contaminated food waste went to landfill and the remainder to an anaerobic digestor company. This new partnership means less waste and less of a negative environmental impact, something I know all the traders are pleased about.”​

Cost of living crisis

Felix Project vans take kilos of produce – such as satsumas, bananas, peppers, melons, tomatoes and more – to one of the charity’s four depots across London. Need for this produce has increased as more and more people turn to food banks to support their families during the cost of living crisis.

Food Manufacture editor Bethan Grylls visited the charity earlier this year​​ to see how they redistribute food and find out just how their work is benefiting the local community and the charities they support.

Theresa Anderson – a volunteer at one of these charities, Hounslow Community Food Box – said: “We are so excited about getting food from The Felix Project. We currently rely on donations and a small budget to create food parcels, but sadly as the need has increased, donations of food and money have fallen, resulting in us having less to give more people. ​

“With fruit and vegetables also so expensive it means we cannot give our clients as much of these type of products as we would like. Getting Felix deliveries, which will include fresh, healthy produce will be transformational and mean so much to the people we help.”​