We operate in one of the most competitive sectors in the UK, but sometimes it is only by working together that we can make the biggest difference.
A year ago, we were involved in the launch of the Coronation Food Project, which has a clear mission: to tackle the serious environmental issue of food waste whilst supporting charities that feed millions of families across the UK.
It’s a mission so fundamental that it united us. And today, we’re asking others to join us.
The Coronation Food Project is inspired by years of leadership from our King, who has long championed environmental and social causes. His commitment to sustainability and charitable support have never been more important.
Eleven million people go hungry in the UK. That’s nearly one in six facing food insecurity, many of them children. They’re supported by charities like FareShare, the Felix Project, and the thousands of community organisations they serve. We see the need, first-hand, on our own visits to frontline organisations: young children being fed before school who wouldn’t otherwise have had breakfast, food parcels at Christmas for those who would have gone without, and hot meals for people living alone or without adequate cooking facilities in their homes.
In community centres, schools and shelters across the country, we meet inspirational people working tirelessly to provide a hand up, not a handout, to those in need. But the burden of tackling food waste cannot – and should not – fall solely on these charities. Whilst their work is humbling, they cannot do it alone. They shoulder some of society’s toughest responsibilities with the least resources, and this has to change. Government, philanthropists, individuals and businesses can all play their part.
So, members of the food industry – especially those of us within the IGD – have put aside our competitive differences to focus on how we can turn even more surplus food into a steady resource for these charities.
There is no doubt retailers and manufacturers have become more efficient in tackling food waste in our own operations in recent years, and we continue to work hard on this. But there are still 4.5 million tonnes of surplus food in our collective supply chains, every year, that we must focus on.
Working together through the Coronation Food Project, we’ve found ways to reclaim ingredients, packaging and products that might otherwise go to waste. Through ‘supplier clubs’ and partnering up, we’ve seen surplus potatoes, carrots and onions go direct to charities. New processes mean protein, such as chicken and plant-based alternatives, is reaching food hubs, surplus flour and sugar are being made into biscuits, and vegetable misfits put into curries and distributed. Where packaging is defective, ingredients can also be rescued. And excess volumes of pasta sauce, previously unused, have been diverted into 7kg bags for catering charities and community cafés.
In our pilot stage, we said we would provide 10 million meals – and we’re on target to achieve this. Recovering this food does come at a small cost, but it’s an investment worth making. Each pound we put in generates many more times that, in terms of the value of food it unlocks for those who need it, and the social benefit it creates.
There are plenty more examples. But the work doesn’t stop there. We need to scale up.
That’s why today we are launching Alliance Food Sourcing. A new and dedicated group within the IGD will work with retailers, manufacturers, logistics providers and more – across the food supply chain – to identify sources of surplus food and get it to these vital charities.
Leading this new group is Nicola Robinson, who has spent 25 years working in the food, drink and retail sector. She is supported by a steering committee of food industry CEOs, consultancy and charities. We’ve already seen how our combined effort can make a material difference.
So today, in the spirit of collaboration – rather than competition – we encourage all retailers, manufacturers and supply chain partners across the UK to join us.
The UK has the opportunity to lead the way in tackling food waste, not by any single organisation’s efforts, but through a coalition of everyone who touches this great industry.
If you want to be part of this critical initiative, please join us at Alliance Food Sourcing. Let’s turn surplus food into social impact, and work together to create a more sustainable food system.
Contact the AFS at alliancefoodsourcing@igd.com to learn more and become part of the alliance.
Signatories:
Alex Freudmann, MD of M&S Food
Matthew Barnes, UK CEO of Tesco
Simon Roberts, CEO of Sainsbury’s
Dalton Philips, CEO of Greencore Group
Ranjit Singh, president of 2 Sisters Food Group
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