FareShare, the UK’s largest charity tackling food waste to support social good, and total supply chain solutions provider Oakland International, in the last year alone, have saved multiple tonnes of food from going to waste within the supply chain.

The UK’s national network of charitable food redistributors FareShare is made up of 18 independent organisations using quality surplus food from the food industry and redistributing it to support some 8,500 frontline charities and community groups, with Oakland International supporting FareShare over the last 18 months.

Oakland Non-Executive Director Dale Fiddy commented: “Our ongoing FareShare partnership keeps on going from strength to strength with last year’s food savings speaking volumes.

“Of the millions of meals provided they have directly benefitted people in our society most in need including families struggling with the cost-of-living crisis to the homeless, and it’s extremely important that together we continue to develop and expand our capabilities and increase the amount of support we provide to the FareShare team.”

Working in partnership Oakland and FareShare in 2023 helped save 6,068 tonnes of food, supported 5,193 charities, created 14.2 million meals and helped reduce CO2 emissions by 12,000 tonnes. Several new projects for Oakland include a high care food reprocessing area and vegetable processing line capable of dealing with large catering packs of frozen, chilled and ambient products, and the ability to wash, slice or dice, pack and freeze raw vegetables which helps to extend shelf-life and are then repacked and distributed through the FareShare network.

FareShare is at the heart of support for the Coronation Food Project inspired by His Majesty King Charles III, a ground-breaking and urgent response to the growing challenge of reducing food waste and hunger.

As part of their fight against food waste, FareShare has launched a three-point manifesto shaped by local charities and food partners including Oakland International. This manifesto calls on political parties to close the food gap and help get more edible surplus food to people who need it and prevent it from going to waste.

Carl Hawkes, Director of Operations at FareShare: “We’re incredibly grateful to the support from Oakland International, who have been instrumental in helping us tackle the environmental impact of food waste in order to support our network of charities and community groups across the UK. Working with Oakland has allowed us to develop innovative schemes to extend the shelf life of food, reducing carbon emissions while getting food to people who need it.”

Operating 24-hours/7 days a week Oakland International is an authority in direct to consumer, case consolidation, contract packing, storage and distribution, food tempering and brand development support for ambient, chilled, and frozen food, servicing retail, convenience, discount, wholesale and food service markets in the UK and Ireland. A Certified B Corp, they are also working towards becoming the first business within their sector to achieve net zero.