Nationwide Produce reaches million-meal milestone with FareShare

FareShare reaches over 1m

FareShare redistributes surplus food to over a million people across the UK

UK fresh produce supplier Nationwide Produce PLC has reached a 1m-meal milestone in its collaboration with food redistribution charity FareShare.

Since 2020, Nationwide has diverted over 473 tonnes of its surplus produce to FareShare, which has provided food to 4,357 charities and community groups across the UK.

Commenting on the achievement, Tim O’Malley, group managing director of Nationwide Produce PLC, said: ”We are proud to celebrate this remarkable milestone achieved through our partnership with FareShare.

“Our commitment to alleviating food poverty has fuelled our collaboration over the past four years, and especially in these challenging times, our support for FareShare remains crucial.

”As we look ahead, we’re eager to continue our journey, making a tangible difference in the lives of vulnerable individuals across the UK. We would certainly encourage anyone thinking of partnering with Fareshare to do so.”

FareShare is the only charity operating on a national scale in partnership with its network to redistribute edible surplus food to over a million people across the UK, O’Malley added.

In addition to providing food, these charities and community groups help tackle the root causes of poverty and provide vital services such as domestic violence shelters, breakfast and after school clubs and older people’s lunch clubs.

”FareShare’s innovative approach makes it easy for farmers and small-scale growers to contribute surplus food, thereby minimising environmental impact while ensuring access to nutritious meals for those in need,” a Nationwide spokeswoman added.

Simon Millard, director of food at FareShare said: “We are enormously grateful to the team at Nationwide Produce for their continued support and reaching the significant milestone of providing the equivalent of 1m meals.

”By providing surplus fresh produce, Nationwide has made a huge difference to ensuring that good food goes to people, not waste. Their support helps to address the environmental issue of food waste at the same time as strengthening communities across the country and ensuring people in need have access to a healthy diet.”

Nationwide Produce is a FareShare ‘Leading Food Partner’, and O’Malley is a FareShare trustee and chair of FareShare Food Committee.