Apetito joins scheme to tackle food poverty

School meal provider Apetito is partnering with food distribution charity FareShare to help fight hunger and tackle food waste.

FareShare takes donated surplus food from across the food industry and redistributes it to 8,500 charitable organisations across the UK. In 2023, the team redistributed over 54,000 tonnes of food, enabling the organisations it works with to provide around one million meals a week.

As well as donating over 8,000 individual Christmas Puddings to charities and organisations in Preston and Southampton before Christmas, Apetito is also giving FareShare over 2,000 Victoria Sponge and Chocolate Celebration Cakes, which are now being distributed to charitable organisations in Newcastle, Manchester, Glasgow, Leeds, Edinburgh, and Southampton.

George Wright – CEO of FareShare said: “Here at FareShare we are delighted to establish a partnership with apetito UK & Wiltshire Farm Foods – a collaboration which was cemented when the apetito’ team provided a quantity of fabulous Christmas Puddings, which were quickly distributed through the FareShare network to charities and community groups supporting those in need.

“We are looking forward to building on this relationship and ensuring that no good food goes to waste, through regular food collections and redistribution both locally and nationally.

“It’s a partnership based on shared values and doing the right thing – food should never be wasted when so many people are living in poverty and need our help”.
apetito UK’s CEO and Chairman, Paul Freeston along with Lee Sheppard, Director of Corporate Affairs, Policy and Sustainability, recently headed down to FareShare Southwest’s Bristol warehouse to see first-hand how FareShare redistributes the food it receives from suppliers, directly to over 400 charities, foodbanks, and community groups across the Southwest.

Speaking for apetito, Lee Sheppard, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with FareShare, an organisation that shares our values and profound commitment to making a real difference.

“At apetito, we recognise the importance of addressing food waste and this partnership supports our pledge to ensuring our surplus ingredients and meals are going to help those who really need it. Whilst we previously sent no food waste to landfill, it’s extremely rewarding to now know that any waste food that would have been sent for energy recovery, is now able to support charities and organisations doing incredible work.”

^{Image shows Paul Freeston and Lee Sheppard visiting Fareshare South West.}