FareShare and KFC launch food redistribution partnership

FareShare and KFC (UK and Ireland) have launched a food redistribution partnership, aiming to deliver surplus food from KFC restaurants to people in need, as well as preventing food waste.

According to Fareshare, the programme will assist in delivering ‘the equivalent of more than four million meals across the year to local people in need’. Based on forecasted projections of the programmes 2022 rollout, with 1,000 restaurants expected to take part, the partnership announced that in a full year it hopes to see ‘12 million meals redistributed’.

KFC UK and Ireland told Resource: "The new food redistribution programme will work with the help of FareShare’s network of local community groups who visit KFC restaurants to collect surplus food. Through FareShare Go, charities and community groups are linked with their local KFC restaurant. On their scheduled collection day, the charity will receive a notification via the FareShare app advising them of any food available to collect. Once they have accepted the food offer, they can collect any available items from KFC directly."

They continued: "FareShare charities collect frozen food from KFC three times a week. The restaurants are currently able to redistribute their five main chicken items (original pieces, hot wings, mini fillets, fillets and zingers) to charities. The food is then transported over to the freezer ready for charity collection.

"The designated charities must confirm their collection through the FareShare Go Foodiverse app between 8-11am on the day of collection. If it’s not confirmed by the designated charity, then it’s offered to the next charity in line.

"The provision is then confirmed by staff on the FareShare Foodiverse app through KFC’s in-restaurant system. Finally, the food is then taken back and reheated into meals for the community."

The fast-food chain is currently only donating poultry products, but said that it is 'exploring adding new lines' ahead of the scheme's roll out.

A successful pilot scheme for the initiative began in 20 KFC outlets in the Midlands, the North East and Essex. The eight-month trial period saw the partnership distribute more than 27,500 meals to over 22 local community groups, via FareShare Go.

Since the beginning of the eight-month trial period, the partnership has redistributed the equivalent of more than 27,500 meals to over 22 local community groups, Fareshare says.

More than ten per cent of the UK’s population face food insecurity each day, with the current cost of living crisis increasing both food prices and energy bills.

A recent survey of more than 1,200 charities receiving food through FareShare, found that ‘90 per cent’ of the organisations ‘have been affected by the cost of living crisis’, and ‘75 percent say they’ve seen an increase in demand’ for the charities service over the last year.

Jenny Packwood, Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer at KFC, said: “Being a good neighbour means caring about local people and supporting the local issues that matter most.

“The last two years have been really tough – but particularly tough for some more than others. We’ve seen more and more people in the local communities that we serve being plunged into food insecurity and, as the cost of living crisis intensifies, it is more important than ever that we make sure any surplus food gets to the people who need it most.

“We want to move fast and hard on rolling out our food redistribution programme by the end of the year, and across all of our restaurants, because we cannot sit by while our communities suffer. That’s why we’re thrilled to be working with FareShare to deliver so many meals, which would have otherwise gone to waste, to people facing hunger in our communities across the country.

“By redistributing our surplus fried chicken, we’ll not only be tackling food insecurity, but we’ll also be taking an important step towards our goal of become a fully circular, zero waste business by 2035.”

Lindsay Boswell, Chief Executive at FareShare, added: “We believe no good food should go to waste which is why we’re so excited to be partnering with KFC. This partnership marks the first time we will be offering frozen poultry products to local communities using the FareShare Go app, complimenting the fresh fruit and veg, and bakery items typically received.

“With the current cost of living crisis affecting millions of people already struggling to make ends meet, this food is needed now more than ever and we anticipate that, through this partnership, more than 2,000 charities and community groups will be able to collect from their local KFC restaurant.”