Time’s up on food waste

It is no secret that food suppliers sometimes produce more stock than they need to fill orders from their customers. Likewise, shops, supermarkets, and restaurants sometimes order more than they need to serve their customers.

The threat of unfulfilled orders, empty shelves, or not being able to meet customer demands is a constant reality. This is especially so for food suppliers and retailers whose supply chains are at the mercy of geopolitical factors.

The trolley of reduced bread, the eggs that might expire next week, even the sugar-laden treats all have a best before or hard-stop expiration date. But having too much of a good thing does not just lead to special prices. It leads to excess food waste.

According to a report by The Grocer*, UK supermarkets throw away as many as 100,000 tonnes of food every year.?Experts say if repurposed, this so-called waste could feed up to 30 million people a year**.

Meanwhile, food poverty is on the rise as the cost of living continues its upward trend. In September 2022, almost 10 million adults experienced food insecurity*** and in the first quarter of 2023, an estimated one-in-seven people across the UK will skip meals because they cannot afford the essentials.

The result? More and more people are relying on food banks.?

Millions of meals on wheels?

At YF , we work with retailers, investors and high-growth innovative brands looking to disrupt their market category. Of the top 100 grocery brands in the UK, not a single one is under 20 years old. YF exists to change that, by helping scaling brands to grow and reach more consumers.

So, when we came across City Harvest, we knew their proposition had synergies with the brands we work with. We saw the potential to truly disrupt the stale cycle of food waste, and we wanted to donate our time to help. On a regular basis the YF team volunteer at City Harvest, and now many of the brands we work with partner with them too – finding a home for products they can’t sell.?

Based in Acton, City Harvest employs van drivers to cover the greater London area and beyond. So far, they have delivered 17,874 tonnes of rescued food, adding up to more than 42 million nutritious meals.?

Next-gen thinking

Until now, the cheapest thing to do with excess food waste has been to destroy it and absorb the cost. Working in the FMCG sector in 2023, we are seeing an uprising to this from the mission-led brands run by inspired entrepreneurs. This is in part fueled by a desire to become a B Corporation, something that many of the brands we work with have already achieved.?

These future industry leaders see the world in a way that old-school names perhaps do not – or at least not yet. It is one of their USPs and this unique perspective is driving a generational change about food waste – a consciousness evolving.?

Alongside regular volunteering from the whole team, Giles Moody, YFs Head of Data & Tech also has a place on the City Harvest Food Council.

As a member, Giles collaborates with London’s restauranteurs, retailers, farmers and financiers on projects that can make a big difference. There will always be some element of food waste but as businesses and community stakeholders, it is up to us to minimise it as much as possible.

At YF, we recently received our B Corp certification, and will continue to support City Harvest throughout our continued B Corp journey. We are already seeing the great benefits of being a part of the B Corp movement and as a business within the industry, this was a real milestone for YF.?

The emerging shift in social consciousness can benefit every stakeholder in a product’s lifecycle, from the brand aspiring to the B Corp certificate to the end-user who cannot afford the essentials. Encouraging big brands to waste less and give more will, fundamentally, be driven by consumers, and their evolving demands for a greater social impact.

If you would like to support City Harvest by donating your time or excess stock, visit cityharvest.org.uk . It is easy to get involved and the team will do all the heavy lifting, collecting your unwanted food waste from your door.?

Why there can be no more excuses for supermarket food waste | Comment & Opinion | The Grocer

Food waste facts 2023 (businesswaste.co.uk)

Food poverty in the UK: The causes, figures and solutions (bigissue.com)