Fresh Direct has donated the equivalent of more than two million meals in partnership with food redistribution charity, FareShare.
Since launching the partnership in 2018, the two companies have saved around 850 tonnes of food that would have otherwise gone to waste and alongside other Sysco initiatives including Brakes’ charity Meals & More.
Alongside other Sysco GB companies, Fresh Direct has dedicated teams to ensure that surplus food does not go to waste, by maintaining oversight of the lifecycle of its stock and working with charities including FareShare to redistribute food. The teams also support their customers by providing them with hints and tips to reduce their own waste.
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Stuart Smith, merchandising director, Sysco GB, said: “We wholeheartedly agree with FareShare that no good food should go to waste, and continue to focus on minimising surplus wherever possible. We’re proud to partner with FareShare and reach this significant milestone of sharing more than two million meals from Fresh Direct taking our total across the business to the equivalent of more than 11 million meals.
“Everyone has an interest in cutting food waste, so as well as our own efforts, we will continue to provide support to customers including ideas and inspiration to help them reduce their surplus food.”
Lucy Allison, head of Food Industry at FareShare added: “We’re incredibly grateful to the support from Fresh Direct in helping us get 2 million meals worth of good-to-eat surplus food to people. With 13.3 million people, including 4 million children, worried about where their next meal is coming from, the support from Sysco GB is needed more than ever to help people most impacted by the cost of living crisis.”
Elsewhere at Fresh Direct, the company recently won the Wholesale Fruit & Veg Supplier of the Year at the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) Awards.
Picking up the award from restaurant critic Jay Rayner in front of more than 700 of the fresh produce sector’s leading suppliers, Andy Pembroke, managing director of Fresh Direct said: “It is fantastic to be recognised by our peers for the job we’re doing. Over the past few years, we’ve worked hard to bridge the gap between our suppliers and our customers, bringing everyone together to become much more responsive across the supply chain.
