From overcoming operational barriers in obtaining,
storing and transporting food safely from restaurants
as they close in response to coronavirus, to supporting
drops in volunteer numbers, grants will be available to
redistributors working hard to ensure valuable food
supplies do not go to waste.
All food redistribution businesses and charities will
be encouraged to bid for grants over the coming month,
including those whose volunteer programmes have been
affected by social distancing measures or those that
cannot access their usual commercial support network.
This funding comes as the government continues to
engage with the food industry to ensure the nation is
fed, and people across the UK are supported in getting
the food and groceries they need.
Environment Minister said:
I am proud of the many organisations across the UK
working to ensure food and supplies are provided to
those who need it most need during this challenging
time.
This funding will support people in need while
ensuring that we minimise the amount of food which
goes to waste – benefiting both society and the
environment.
Food Waste Champion said:
Now more than ever, it is of paramount importance
that we ensure good food does not go to waste.
This money will support food redistribution
organisations to continue their pivotal work in
delivering food to those who need it.
The Defra-funded grant scheme will be managed by
sustainability not-for-profit WRAP, which works
closely with governments, businesses, and
redistribution organisations to minimise food waste.
Chief Executive of WRAP Marcus Gover said:
It is critical in these unprecedented times that we
maximise the amount of surplus food redistributed.
These grants offer crucial financial support to
redistribution organisations, where it will have the
most impact. We know from managing redistribution
funds that this money will make a huge difference to
many people.
Today’s funding is the latest in a series of government
grants to help tackle food waste, with last year’s Food
Waste Reduction Fund ensuring nearly 2,000 tonnes of
surplus food did not go to waste.
Rene Meijer, CEO of Sheffield-based food redistribution
organisation The Food Works, said:
Over the past two weeks we have doubled the amount of
food we redistribute, as many tonnes of food goes
spare from businesses closing and people change their
shopping habits.
Surplus food redistribution is all about providing
resilience to the community, and at a time like this
we need resilience more than ever to ensure good food
does not go to waste and reaches those who need it.
It comes as the government introduces a series of
measures to support people in getting the food they
need during the coronavirus outbreak. On Sunday 29
March, the government delivered the
first food parcels to vulnerable people who
are being shielded from coronavirus - containing food
and household items such as potatoes, fruit and tinned
goods.
The government has also temporarily relaxed competition
law to allow supermarkets to share data with each other
on stock levels, co-operate to keep shops open and
share distribution depots and delivery vans.
Application windows for the fund will be split in to
three phases. For more information click here.
