Food redistribution network FareShare is opening a new regional hub in Ipswich, Suffolk, to serve the whole East Anglia region.
The charity is now calling on retailers, food manufacturers and suppliers to get in touch and redirect their surplus fresh produce to the site, and help feed those in need in the community.
The East Anglia FareShare hub will be the charity’s 21st facility in the UK, and was funded with help from car rental company Enterprise Rent-A-Car and its part in the Global Foodbanking Networt (GFN).
Enterprise Rent-A-Car is investing £3 million in projects to tackle hunger in the UK over the next six years in partnership with FareShare.
“The East of England produces a fantastic amount of food – from pork and poultry to potatoes and vegetables – but we know that wherever food is grown, packaged or stored, there will always be some surplus,” said FareShare director of network development, Mark Varney.
“We already work with a number of producers in the area and are looking forward to developing new relationships with producers, manufacturers, suppliers and retailers to help them reduce their food waste as well as support their local community.”
FareShare supplies local food projects such as breakfast clubs for children, homeless hostels, lunch clubs for older people and domestic violence refuges.
Birds Eye head of supply chain, Maxine Mackender, said: “Birds Eye has built a close relationship with FareShare and are honoured to have such a great partner getting the food we love out to those that need it. Much of our manufacturing is based in East Anglia, so it is great to be able to support local communities.”
