Wales’ Surplus Food Champions
FareShare Cymru, surplus food redistribution charity receives generous frozen food donation from S.A. Brain, following the closure of pubs & restaurants.
In light of the S.A. Brain managed pubs temporarily closing once again this week, following further Covid-19 restrictions enforced upon the Welsh hospitality industry, S.A Brain, Wales’ leading brewer and pub retailer, have committed to donating all food stock held in its freezers to help feed the vulnerable over the festive period and into the New Year. S.A. Brain made a similar charitable gesture back in March, following the news of the first national lockdown, when they donated well over £100,000 worth of stock to local charities and key workers. With additional food stock likely to go to waste again as a result of their third temporary closure, the decision was made by the company to repeat their charitable food donation, this time partnering with FareShare Cymru.
Since the lockdown was first introduced in March, FareShare Cymru has more than doubled the amount of food it redistributes– from the equivalent of 25,000 to more than 55,000 meals each week. With a clear increase in demand for such surplus food, it is only with new partnerships like this one with members of the Welsh Food Sector, can FareShare Cymru continue to support its members, and provide sufficient provisions.
Nathan Evans Food Operations Manager at S.A. Brain, said “COVID-19 has forced multiple lockdowns upon the hospitality sector, resulting in a substantial volume of surplus food stock within the business. Partnering with FareShare Cymru means this stock, which would otherwise go to waste, is helping to feed those within our communities who need it. Whilst the reason behind such a large donation from us is devastating, we are pleased a new relationship with FareShare Cymru has been established, which we’ll look to carry forward and support post-re-opening”
Castell Howell Foods are the distribution partner for this surplus food donation. Castell Howell Foods continue to support FareShare Cymru through providing a central hub and logistics solution for surplus food donations from their extensive supplier base.
About FareShare Cymru: FareShare Cymru is part of the UK-wide FareShare network of charitable food redistributors. FareShare Cymru saves over 570 tonnes of good surplus food per annum from right across the food supply chain, redistributes it to 170 charities and community groups across Wales. These charities provide meals as part of their services to people in need – such as food banks, community centres, for older people, domestic violence refuges, homeless shelters and drug and alcohol rehab units. This year alone FareShare Cymru have provided enough food for over 1,350,000 meals. Contact the team at Fare Share Cymru to find out more.