One of the UK’s largest pub chains has partnered with food redistribution charity FareShare to reduce its food waste and support those at risk of food insecurity.
JD Wetherspoon, which owns 880 pubs across the UK, has committed to not only donating but also delivering quality surplus meats, chips, ready meals and desserts to FareShare.
So far, the pub chain has provided surplus food provisions amounting to over 1.7 tonnes – equivalent to a phenomenal 4,000 meals. The donations have supported more than 100 charities and community groups which include homeless hostels, breakfast clubs and domestic refuges.
Wetherspoon has now agreed to provide regular deliveries of quality meat, ready meals and potatoes to five FareShare regional centres including Hull, Speke, Manchester, Preston and Newcastle. The food will be provided to the centres on a trial basis until July – and if successful, could be rolled out to the rest of the country.
Food provided by Wetherspoon has become surplus as a result of menu changes and damaged outer cases which, although not harming the food, are costly to rework for commercial sale.
Annual figures recently released by FareShare revealed that the charity is now helping to feed a record 772,000 people a week – 60% more than the previous year. With one in eight people in the UK going hungry every day, Wetherspoon’s donations will be of great value and use to local frontline charities across the five regions.
Lindsay Boswell, CEO of FareShare says: “We’re thrilled to partner with Wetherspoon to ensure that any food which might otherwise go to waste is used to benefit people in need across the UK.
“The team have put a robust process in place, so that when surplus food appears in their operation it can be quickly and effectively diverted to FareShare. Having such a well known, influential company as Wetherspoon on board is great news and sets a positive example to other businesses within the food service industry.”
To mark the partnership, the chain will also promote FareShare within its marketing material, including its quarterly magazine which can be found in all Wetherspoon pubs.
Sophie Finn, quality assurance manager at J.D. Wetherspoon, added: “Our partnership with FareShare helps to avoid food waste, as we strongly believe that edible food should be eaten by hungry people.
“We have already donated thousands of meals, including classics like our five-layer British beef lasagne and our cod and chips to charities around the UK through FareShare, and this is only the start of a great partnership.”
