News
Manufacturers pledge to distribute surplus food through Coronation Food Project
The Coronation Food Project is being delivered in partnership with FareShare across the UK and The Felix Project in London. Formally launched on 14 November, King Charles’ 75th birthday, the scheme intends to support the 13 million people in the UK experiencing food insecurity by cutting out waste from the food supply chain and building on current initiatives focused on the redistribution of surplus food.
The project also encourages retailers and manufacturers to join FareShare's Alliance Manufacturing programme, which brings members together to share surplus, underutilised and donated resources in all forms – food, packaging, labour hours and factory and distribution capacity.
Businesses involved have signed a pledge which commits them to the “pursuit of reducing all forms of waste in the food supply chain, and increasing the amount of surplus food that is redistributed to those in need, thereby increasing our collective environmental and social impact.”
Signatories include manufacturers 2 Sisters, Bakkavor, Cranswick, Nestlé, Greencore, Samworth Brothers, Princes, Warburtons, Greenyard and ABF, and major retailers such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Asda, Aldi, Lidl, M&S and Morrisons.
'Incredible support from the food industry'
George Wright, chief executive at FareShare, described the response from the food and drink sector as “incredible”.
“I shared the idea with them, and they've really taken it on, working together to make it a reality,” said Wright.
“The food is already getting to our charities – school clubs, community centres and a whole spectrum of support services - and with so many families impacted by the cost-of-living crisis, it is making a difference already. We are all incredibly grateful to them.”
Meanwhile, The Felix Project chief executive Charlotte Hill added: “The environmental impact of food waste is a scandal, even more so when rising numbers of people across the UK are struggling to put food on the table and are turning in greater numbers to food banks. It’s heartening to see ever more supermarkets, manufacturers and the wider sector join with those already supplying The Felix Project and FareShare, taking a stand to tackle both challenges.”
In other news, 2 Sisters plans to donate one million meals ahead of Christmas.
