If your question is not answered below, feel free to contact us!
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you do?
We are a charity that works directly with suppliers and charities to reduce surplus food and food poverty. We collect the food you stock, bake or make but cannot sell that day. We deliver that fresh food, free of charge, to charities across London that help feed the 100,000 Londoners living in food poverty. The food we collect from you provide meals, snacks or food parcels for some of the most vulnerable people in our communities – families and children, the elderly, the homeless, those with mental health issues, refugees and asylum seekers. Together, we can save food and change people’s lives.
What produce do you collect?
We collect:
- Fresh produce – veg, fruit, bread, salad etc.
- Ambient produce – tins, packets and boxes
- Flowers and plants
- Household products – washing powder, shampoo, cleaning fluid etc.
The only produce we cannot currently collect is:
- Anything past it’s Use By date
- Frozen produce
- Raw meat/fish
As soon as we can, we will be in touch to let you know.
What about split packaging?
We don’t want to see good food going to waste, especially due to cross-contamination. So we ask that damaged packaging be re-sealed (e.g. wrapped with tape or put in a plastic bag) before we collect it from. If there’s any chance cross-contamination has occurred, we’ll make sure that food isn’t passed on to any charity.
Are your vans refrigerated?
Yes. All our vans are refrigerated and kept at 5˚C or below.
How often do you collect?
This is entirely up to you. You’re the experts on your own stock levels and stock rotation processes. We’ll just ask about the most convenient time and create a collection schedule that works for everyone. This is even easier now we do evening collections!
Can I donate outside of the collection/delivery schedule?
We’re pretty flexible. If you ever find you have extra surplus produce at a time outside of your regular collection schedule then just call us. We’ll do our very best to help.
How should we store the produce before you collect it?
It all depends on the amount of produce you have. Most supermarkets store their surplus in crates, which we can then return. Some wholesalers lift pallets on to our vans. Some suppliers prefer us to bring our own crates. Whatever works for you.
Does our produce go straight to charities?
We bring all produce back to our warehouse first. That’s where our team follow our own quality control process. This makes sure that all produce is fit to be passed on to our charities. We check for things like Use By dates, cross-contamination or anything with meat or fish in it. If we receive multi-packs in which one item is mouldy, we’ll discard the mouldy piece and save the rest.
What happens to your food waste?
The small amount of food waste we have goes into anaerobic digestion.
Which charities receive the produce we give you?
By working with us, you’re not just supporting us. You’re supporting local charities that are then supporting some of the most vulnerable people in your community. All of the charities we deliver to are helping those at the greatest risk of food poverty. Some provide cooking lessons to children or provide a decent meal to the homeless. Others cook meals for the elderly or support those recovering form substance abuse.
To find out more about our charity partners, just head to Our Charities Page.
Why do suppliers like working with you?
- We’re reliable – If we say we are going to be somewhere at a certain time, we will be there.
- We’re friendly – We love what we do and it makes us happy to know that suppliers like you share our vision for reducing surplus food and food poverty.
- We don’t charge – There is no cost to you for collecting your surplus produce. (Also, we do not and will not charge our charities – we are funded solely by donations.)
- We’re convenient – The easier things are for you, the better. So we’ll agree the best days and times for us to stop by and pick up your surplus produce.
- We really do appreciate any amount of support – It’s not just us who are grateful when you go to the trouble of setting aside your surplus produce. So is each of the charities we deliver to and every individual or family who benefits.
