2 Sisters tackles food waste in West Midlands

The manufacturer’s commercial team dedicated to Tesco joined FareShare last week (Wednesday April 12) to help deliver food to a selection of the 150 charities the organisation supports in the West Midlands.

Commercial sales executive for 2 Sisters Mushtaque Ahmed said: “The morning was very thought provoking. For me it was the realisation that there are families and children on our door step that struggle to afford a nutritious meal.​

“I was really impressed by the volunteers and the quality of the surplus food. It was great to be able to support FareShare and help redistribute food that could otherwise end up in landfill.”​

‘Otherwise end up in landfill’​

Liz Plumb, development manager at 2 Sisters’ derby site, said she would volunteer again and encouraged others to do so.

“It was a brilliant experience and it was great to go out in the van and see for ourselves where their food is going and what a huge difference it makes.”​

2 Sisters has provided more than 7t of its surplus stock to various FareShare Regional Centres since 2015, enabling the charity to provide 18,000 meals to people in need across the UK.

Rowan West-Henzell, a commercial manager at FareShare, said: “We believe no edible food should go to waste. It was fantastic to have the help of the 2 Sisters team today.​

“With support from volunteers like them and surplus food from the major retailers and manufacturers, we’re able to provide nutritious meals for those in need throughout the West Midlands and UK-wide.”​

Redistributed over 12,000t of surplus food​

FareShare has redistributed over 12,000t of surplus food to 5,500 charities, providing up to 26M meals for vulnerable people. Its West Midlands division has provided enough food for 10M meals in the past 10 years.

West-Henzell added: “It’s only when volunteers come and see what we do and get involved, that it really hits home.”​

The organisation was one of 27 food and drink industry companies to sign up to the Courtauld Commitment 2025 food sustainability agreement in September last year.​  

Meanwhile, Tesco launched a “food waste hotline” ​last month to help suppliers alert the retailer to potential supply chain food waste.

The hotline – accessible through Tesco’s online supplier network – is part of the retailer’​s pledge to waste no surplus food in its UK operations by 2025.