FareShare UK

We’re thrilled to announce that after years of dedicated campaigning alongside The Felix Project, the Government’s surplus food fund is becoming a reality! This initiative marks a significant step in tackling food waste on UK farms and ensuring surplus food reaches those who need it most. Collaboration will be vital - working across the food industry, charitable redistribution sector, Government, and farmers - to deliver this scheme effectively and at scale. At FareShare, we know the impact of redistributing surplus food: ✅ Reducing food waste’s environmental impact ✅ Improving food security and access to healthy, nutritious meals ✅ Delivering proven social and economic returns for the Treasury We are pleased to support the government’s Circular Economy Strategy, and are glad that the government has acknowledged the role of surplus redistribution organisations, and the wider charity sector in its development and implementation. It’s key that we act quickly together to launch this scheme in time to maximise the impact of this initiative during the British growing season and to strengthen community ties.

We are so excited to share that PepsiCo and FareShare’s partnership is expanding. Our partnership of over 7 years is continuing to grow with a donation of £210,000 from the PepsiCo Foundation . This incredible donation will help fund two of FareShare existing programmes, including working with farmers and producers across the UK to divert surplus fresh vegetables for redistribution to our network of over 8,000 charities and community groups. Recently, PepsiCo and FareShare spent the day at WINDY RIDGE VEG LIMITED, one of FareShare’s produce partners. During the visit, we toured the farm and learned more about the Surplus for Purpose initiative– as you can see from the photos, there were a lot of cabbages! 🌱 Mark Nundy, Managing Director of Windy Ridge Vegetables, shared his thoughts on the impact of the initiative: “It feels really good that everything we can produce now is going to a home. It's very important that companies such as PepsiCo getting involved will help the Fund and make sure we can keep supplying the initiative” In addition to supporting UK producers, the funding will also support an employability programme in Leicestershire. This will help prepare over 600 local people for the world of work through tailored workshops, job application support and one-to-one mentoring. Since 2017, PepsiCo has donated more than 2,200 tonnes of PepsiCo’s snack and oat products, which have been provided to charities and community groups across the UK. Thank you so much PepsiCo for your continued support and partnership, we are so grateful 🤝

Until 20th of April, Tesco shoppers in large stores can purchase pre-packed donation bags – making it even easier to support FareShare and Trussell. This initiative aims to support families facing financial difficulties during the school holidays 💚 🛒 If you are interested in getting involved, pick up a donation bag today and purchase it with your shopping at the checkout ✅ Donation bags are pre-packed with most-needed items for FareShare and Trussell 📅 Between 7th and 20th of April in all large stores Claire De Silva, Head of Communities at Tesco, said: “With the lack of free school meal provision during the holidays we know that families find it difficult to make ends meet and give their kids nutritious meals. “Our pre-packed donation bags will give a much needed top up to FareShare and Trussell and make a difference to the lives of thousands of children and their families.” The Easter Holiday Helps initiative is part of Tesco’s year-round support for schoolchildren as part of Tesco’s Stronger Starts campaign. Thank you so much to Tesco for your incredible support and partnership 💚

🛒 If you are interested in getting involved, pick up a donation bag today and purchase it with your shopping at the checkout. Donation bags are pre-packed with most-needed items for FareShare and Trussell. Thank you so much to Tesco for your incredible support and partnership 💚

At the end of January, Müller UK & Ireland colleagues from Manchester and Leeds kindly organised an ambient food collection for Mustard Tree, an amazing charity that FareShare Greater Manchester work with 💚 All of the food collected went to the Food Club, which on average sees over 2,500 visits every month across the hubs in Ancoats, Little Hulton, and Eccles. Müller also donated 3 trollies of milk to be used in the kitchen and food club, as well as bringing people together over a cuppa in the café ☕ The collection was organised in mid-winter, after chatting with the team at Mustard Tree and hearing that the donations would be particularly impactful when the weather tends to be colder. The charity currently sees over 500 new clients each month, for support with food, clothing, 121 support, advice, and advocacy. The Müller team also volunteered for the morning at Mustard Tree in the Food Club and helping prepare meals in the kitchen, and FareShare’s Lisa Darbyshire volunteered on reception. Thank you so much to Müller for your continued partnership and support, and a huge thank you to Mustard Tree for the work that you do to support your local community.

We are delighted to share that last month the FLEX Programme won the Achieving Sustainable Solutions award at the IFE - International Food & Drink Event Manufacturing Ingredients awards, which recognises excellence across the food and drink ingredients industry. With a focus on achieving net zero and reducing food waste the judges were particularly keen to hear from companies using waste streams to create new product types and from companies undertaking action under the science-based targets initiative to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions Achieving the Sustainable Solutions award gives us a great platform to spotlight our work and encourage more of the industry to get involved. A big thank you to Terry Earnshaw at WE CAN FOODS LIMITED for innovating and manufacturing the saag aloo, Bakkavor, Samworth Brothers and Hartleys Ltd (J.E.Hartleys) for the donated surplus ingredients, and to Eviosys for the tins. A huge thank you to generous funding from the Julia Rausing Trust which makes this project possible. It was a brilliant night as the team had the opportunity to connect with other organisations across the industry. Thank you so much IFE! Zerah Vickers

We recently welcomed four Tesco colleagues from the Whiteley store to our Southern Central site for a day of volunteering. They brought lots of fun and positive energy to the warehouse, and between them they picked an incredible 1 tonne of food in just over an hour! 💪 It was a fantastic day, and they loved having the opportunity to see the food going out to support people in the community, including surplus food Tesco provides to FareShare and the items Tesco customers donate in store. Thank you, Tesco Whiteley Team!

When you get April Fools'ed and turn up to the meeting in a veg costume 💔

We are now six months into our three-year strategic partnership with KPMG UK, and what a brilliant start it has been! In just over six months, KPMG have already supported us in a host of ways including... Raising over £124,000 through their First Hour Appeal, encouraging colleagues to donate their first hour of pay ⏰ Holding including office bake sales, team walks and a ‘Share the Love for FareShare’ activity for Valentines Day 🍰 Facilitating over 500 colleagues to volunteer in FareShare warehouses across the country 🚛 Creating over 200 food parcels for local charities supported by FareShare 🍏 Inviting the FareShare Network to their Ignition centre in Canary Wharf to work through how we can drive towards an even more successful future, together 💚 Providing vital strategic support through pro bono projects and skilled volunteering opportunities 🤝 We are so excited to continue working together over the next 2.5 years of our partnership, and to see what we can achieve together. A massive thank you to every colleague at KPMG who has supported the partnership so far, your support powers the redistribution of millions of meals each year. Through surplus food, you are helping to strengthen communities and change lives. Thank you so much KPMG! 💚

Last month, Lineage UK met up with FareShare’s CEO Kris Gibbon-Walsh to celebrate their incredible £32,000 fundraising total from their 12 Peaks Challenge, and also get stuck in volunteering at the FareShare Midlands warehouse in Nottingham 🍏 In May 2024, the team embarked on a 38 mile walk over 9 major peaks in the Lake District, followed by 3 peaks in the Yorkshire Dales ⛰️ We are so grateful to every colleague that got involved in the challenge, and of course to each person who supported the team. This donation will have an incredible impact, helping us to turn surplus food into vital support in communities across the UK. Thank you! 💚