Working with its own-brand pasta supplier Daybreak, Waitrose will divert approximately 130 tonnes of surplus pasta per year, which is the equivalent of 350,000 meals to FareShare.
The surplus pasta, a byproduct of the manufacturing process when machines switch between cutting different pasta shapes, is perfectly good to eat but has historically been used for animal feed or similar purposes.
James Bailey, executive director of Waitrose, commented: “We have been inspired by the ambition of the Coronation Food Project to reduce food waste while tackling food insecurity.
“Working with our supplier Daybreak and FareShare, we will divert 130 tonnes of perfectly edible pasta previously being fed to animals or going to anaerobic digestion to charities UK-wide. We are delighted to find this opportunity in our supply chain to get good, nutritious surplus food distributed to people in need.”
This initiative reflects Waitrose's ongoing dedication to reducing food waste and strengthening community support. It also directly supports the supermarket's commitment to halving food waste in its own operations and supply chains by 2030.
Kris Gibbon-Walsh, chief executive at FareShare, added: "This additional support from Waitrose will help us not only prevent good food from going to waste but also make a meaningful impact in supporting families and strengthening communities across the UK.”