Major UK Supermarkets Unite to Fight Hunger and Food Waste with the ‘Let’s Make a Meal of It’ Campaign

Major UK Supermarkets Unite to Fight Hunger and Food Waste with the ‘Let’s Make a Meal of It’ Campaign

(IN BRIEF) The UK’s largest supermarkets – Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Tesco, and Waitrose – have launched the “Let’s Make a Meal of It” campaign to raise funds for FareShare, aiming to provide five meals for every £1 donated. The initiative, supported by a coalition of food businesses, will also focus on rescuing surplus food and redistributing it to charities. This collaboration is part of a wider effort to reduce food waste and tackle food insecurity across the UK.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 20-May-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Starting on May 19, 2025, the UK’s largest supermarkets – Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Tesco, and Waitrose – will launch the “Let’s Make a Meal of It” campaign to fight hunger and food waste across the country. The campaign encourages millions of customers to donate in-store or online, with every £1 raised providing five meals for people facing food insecurity.

The “Let’s Make a Meal of It” initiative will run for 7-14 days, with all funds raised directed to FareShare, the UK’s leading food redistribution charity. FareShare works with over 8,000 charities and community groups to ensure that surplus food reaches those in need. This campaign marks a groundbreaking collaboration between four competitors in the retail industry, working together to address the rising hunger levels in the UK, where 1 in 7 people, including 2.7 million children, go hungry.

A Collaborative Effort to Combat Hunger

The collaboration is part of a wider effort to support people in need, driven by the growing demand for food. While UK supermarkets have made significant strides in reducing food waste, there is still an increasing need for surplus food to be repurposed and redistributed to charities. The campaign will not only provide much-needed meals but will also support ongoing industry efforts to identify new sources of edible food in the supply chain.

A new coalition, called Alliance Food Sourcing, is supporting this effort. Led by IGD (Institute of Grocery Distribution), FareShare, and The Felix Project, this coalition includes 32 major food businesses committed to tackling the 4.6 million tonnes of food waste produced each year before it reaches consumers. By repurposing surplus food that would otherwise go to waste, they aim to boost the supply of meals to those in need.

Innovative Solutions to Address Food Waste

One of the core components of the Alliance Food Sourcing initiative is transforming surplus food into meals that can be distributed to charities. This includes repackaging bulk products, creating nutritious meals from ingredients that would otherwise be discarded, and rescuing food during production line changes.

For example, supermarkets are rescuing “misfit” vegetables to make soups and stews, and excess pasta sauces are being repackaged for catering charities. This collaboration helps not only reduce food waste but also saves on costs compared to donating ready-made meals.

By partnering with suppliers and food manufacturers, supermarkets are turning surplus food into vital meals. This includes creating custom juice blends from leftover fruits during production line switches and repurposing excess pasta into meals. More than 130 tonnes of surplus pasta have already been rescued through this innovative approach.

Voices of Support

Kristopher Gibbon-Walsh, CEO of FareShare, said: “With Alliance Food Sourcing, we are transforming surplus food into nutritious meals for communities in need. This collaboration will reduce food waste while helping to build stronger communities and provide life-changing support.”

Simon Roberts, CEO of Sainsbury’s and President of IGD, added: “At Sainsbury’s, we believe everyone should have access to good food. This partnership across the food industry is a breakthrough in addressing food poverty, and we’re proud to play a key role in delivering real, positive change.”

Matthew Barnes, UK CEO of Tesco, expressed, “We are excited to support the ‘Let’s Make a Meal of It’ campaign and strengthen our partnership with FareShare. Collaboration is essential to tackling food insecurity, and we are pleased to work with other retailers to make a difference.”

Rami Baitiéh, CEO of Morrisons, said, “We are committed to tackling food waste and eradicating food poverty. Our participation in this industry-wide initiative will help redistribute surplus food to those who need it most.”

James Bailey, Managing Director of Waitrose & Partners, stated, “We’re proud to be part of Alliance Food Sourcing, helping to reduce food waste while addressing food insecurity. By working with suppliers, we can ensure that surplus food is redistributed to people who need it.”

Sarah Bradbury, CEO of IGD, concluded: “It’s extraordinary to see the food industry unite to rescue thousands of tonnes of good, surplus food. We urge more businesses to join the Alliance Food Sourcing coalition to help provide meals for vulnerable people while cutting waste.”

Media Contact:

email: press_office@sainsburys.co.uk

SOURCE: Sainsbury