Appleby Westward partners with FareShare to fight hunger

SPAR South West’s primary distributor Appleby Westward has partnered with FareShare South West and Gregorys Logistics to play a key role in redistributing surplus food to those in need.

The Plymouth FareShare team thank Appleby Westward for its partnership.

With warehouses in Plymouth and Bristol, FareShare South West rescues surplus food from local food suppliers and delivers it to more than 400 charities, food banks and community groups from Gloucester to Cornwall. Last year, the organisation reached 47,500 people in the south west.

Lucy Bearn, CEO of FareShare South West, said: “The charities we support represent many thousands of people living with food insecurity, while good quality, in-date food is often wasted – so we’re delighted to be partnering with SPAR Appleby Westward to support charities, schools and community hubs across Cornwall and Devon with more food.”

Michal Czynienik, trading manager at Appleby Westward, added: “This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our efforts to support local communities and reduce food waste. Through this partnership, we will enhance our impact on society while fostering stronger relationships within our community.”

In October 2023, 3.4 million households reported not having enough money for food (Joseph Rowntree Foundation). In Cornwall, one in five children live in poverty. In Bristol, it’s one in three. According the Food Foundation, healthy food is on average over twice as expensive per calorie as less healthy options.

Meanwhile, the UK wastes approximately 9.5 million tonnes of food every year. This includes food waste generated at various stages of the food supply chain, including production, processing, distribution, retail and households.