Sysco celebrates 8 million meal milestone through FareShare partnership

19-Jul-2022 - Last updated on 19-Jul-2022 at 10:33 GMT

FareShare distributed nearly 130 million meals during 2021-22 - the equivalent of four meals every second. Pic: Sysco

The teams at Sysco's operating companies in Great Britain - Brakes and Sysco Speciality Group (SSG) - maintain careful oversight of the lifecycle of stock, ensuring that any surplus gets into the hands of vulnerable people through its partnership with FareShare.

The partnership between FareShare and Brakes and SSG was forged in 2010, and to-date has provided enough food to make over eight million meals for those in need.

The relationship has ramped up significantly, with the past year seeing the equivalent of around two million meals of surplus food supplied to low-income families, homeless shelters and community groups through a network of almost 3,000 charities.

“We firmly believe that food should not be wasted, and are focused on minimising surplus wherever possible,” said Stuart Smith, merchandising director of Sysco GB.

“As we all face significant increases in the cost of living, FareShare’s work to redistribute food to those families most in need has never been more important.

“We’re proud to partner with FareShare and reach this significant milestone of sharing over eight million meals.”

Added Emma Brown, FareShare’s commercial manager, “We have been working with Brakes and SSG for 12 years to redistribute good quality surplus food to charities and community groups across the UK.

“We’re grateful for our partnership which enables us to continue supporting those most in need around the UK.”

The partnership with FareShare supports Sysco’s purpose to connect the world to share food and care for one another.

Alongside other Sysco initiatives – including Meals & More, the charity founded by Brakes to end holiday hunger – food donations through FareShare feed into Sysco’s overall Global Good Goal, against which 27 million meals were provided around the world in 2021.

FairShare

FareShare is the UK’s biggest charity fighting hunger and food waste. The non-profit accepts good-to-eat surplus from across the food industry, sorts it in its regional warehouses, and then passes it on to a network of nearly 9,500 charities and community groups across the UK, including food banks and pantries, hostels, refuges, community centres, older people’s lunch clubs, school clubs and hospices.

Two thirds of the organisations it provide food to support children and families.

During FY2021-22, FareShare redistributed the equivalent of nearly 130 million meals - that’s four meals every second.

It needs your help, too.