FareShare Cymru is part of the UK-wide FareShare network of charitable food redistributors, made up of 18 independent organisations. In Wales alone, we save around 600 tonnes of surplus food from the food supply chain per year and redistribute it to frontline charities and community groups. These charities provide meals as part of their services to people in need, and the food we redistribute helps the most vulnerable people in society including the elderly, domestic violence refuges, homeless shelters, and drug and alcohol rehab units. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic we have tripled our food output and are dedicated to working closely with schools and community initiatives.
In Wales, around 400,000 tonnes of food are wasted each year: if only 1% of that is edible, it is still enough to contribute to over 9 million meals. This is at a time when almost a quarter of the Welsh population are living in poverty and people are regularly going hungry while struggling to access good, nutritious food. We want to see wasted food put to good use by distributing it to disadvantaged people across Wales.
To meet the increased demand for food in our Welsh communities, FareShare Cymru must create new surplus food channels, and this will only be achieved by forming partnerships with Welsh food businesses. FareShare Cymru recognises the need to ensure that the process of donating surplus food fits within the current food business processes, and so our dedicated Account Manager works with businesses to find the best solution to redistribute their surplus and ultimately feed more vulnerable people in Welsh communities.