A raft of leading supermarkets are backing a new food hub that has been launched following King Charles’ call for help to fight food poverty and unemployment.
The Sir Peter Rigby Coronation Food Hub, in Gravelly Park, Birmingham, opened this week and is aiming to redistribute more than seven million meals across the West Midlands annually using surplus food from across the food industry – from farms to producers to retailers.
Tesco, Asda, Waitrose, 2 Sisters Food Group and Nationwide Produce are among those supplying the hub, with 3,000 tonnes of surplus food promised in various items every year via the partnership with FareShare Midlands, which will run the facility.
It is being funded by a £2m donation from businessman Sir Peter Rigby, via the Sir Peter Rigby Charitable Trust, and was launched in response to the King’s call to businesses to step up and help stop 10 billion meals worth of edible food being wasted annually in the UK.
FareShare Midlands redistributes surplus food to 650 charities, community groups and schools across the region, helping to feed over 60,000 people weekly.
The new food hub will double its charitable food redistribution capacity in the West Midlands, meaning over seven million meals will be distributed annually.
As well as food, it will also enable local people to access training in warehousing and logistics, including forklift truck training, as well as in catering and hospitality, supporting 500 people annually into sustainable employment.
The food hub’s high-specification kitchen facility will be used to train charities and individuals on how to utilise surplus food.
“Having the backing of so many major supermarkets feeding into the Coronation Food Hub represents a powerful step forward in tackling food poverty and unemployment,” said FareShare Midlands CEO Simone Connolly.
“This cutting-edge facility, bolstered by a strong supply chain, will not only enable FareShare Midlands to redistribute substantially more surplus food to those who need it most, but also to help break the cycle of poverty through training and employment opportunities for local people.
“We are incredibly grateful to Sir Peter Rigby and his Charitable Trust for the generous support and commitment to creating lasting change.”
Rigby said: “I have always believed that success in business should go hand in hand with giving back. I came from a humble background, and I am very aware that not everyone is fortunate enough to have a good start in life.
“Never before has it been as tough to feed families as it is now due to the cost of living crisis. I am honoured to be part of the King’s fantastic initiative that will directly support my local community and reduce food poverty across the region.”
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