In recent weeks, we have been saying a big ‘thank you’ to the companies which supply us with the food we redistribute to our community food members (over 300 charities and community groups). This time, we’re shining the spotlight on Warburtons. Warburtons food donations have played a vital role in supporting FareShare Greater Manchester’s mission to feed those in need and reduce food waste across the community.
Our partnership with FareShare has enabled us to donate even more products to those who need it the most in our communities whilst doing the right thing for the environment. Our people take great pride in playing a part in redistributing surplus and have had opportunities to volunteer and see the difference they are making! – Warburtons
Warburtons, a fifth-generation family business, has been baking since 1876 and is now Britain’s largest bakery brand. Since the company began, it has been proud to support the communities close to its bakeries sites and has been a supporter of FareShare in Greater Manchester since 2019. In the five years they have been working with us, they have donated over 68 tonnes of bread products to help our operation, feeding those that need it the most and reducing their operational food waste.
Supporting communities
Building on its rich history of supporting local communities, the company launched The Warburtons Foundation in 2022 which aims to support families across Great Britain. They say “Through the Warburtons Foundation, we are committed to supporting communities whether that be through product donations, financial support or education. Our partnership with FareShare has enabled us to donate even more products to those who need it the most in our communities, whilst doing the right thing for the environment. Our people take great pride in playing a part in redistributing our surplus products and have had opportunities to volunteer and see the difference they are making.”
Volunteering
arburtons food donations not only support local communities but also provide their employees with volunteering opportunities at FareShare Greater Manchester, where they see the impact firsthand. Like many of our corporate partners, Warburtons has taken the opportunity to send their colleagues along to our HQ at Maynard House in New Smithfield Market to volunteer. Corporate volunteers can get hands on experience in our warehouse picking and packing orders ready for delivery to our community food partners. They also have the chance work as driver’s assistants, riding out in the delivery vans to see firsthand where the food is going. Find out more about our corporate volunteering opportunities.
Sustainability goals
An added benefit to donating surplus food to FareShare Greater Manchester is that food manufacturers can hit their sustainability targets and minimise their impact on the environment as well as helping the community. Companies which donate food to FareShare receive regular impact reports from our development team, which shows just how powerful their donations are.
Warburtons says, “We want to reduce our impact on the environment to ensure we are a responsible, safe and trusted brand for the long term. Our sustainability strategy sets out key ambitions for carbon reduction, food waste, packaging, sourcing and people & communities. By working with FareShare, we can accelerate our ambition of ensuring no good food goes to waste.”
Partnering with Fareshare to redistribute their surplus products was a natural choice; “We take great pride in making our products and hate to see them wasted. Within our operations, we have avoided sending any Warburtons products to landfill since 2015, but we knew we could do more to redistribute surplus back into communities and so we partnered with Fareshare in 2019 to help us do just that.”
Urging others to do the same
What advice would Warburtons give to other food producers considering donating their surplus food to FareShare Greater Manchester?
“Making sure no good food goes to waste is increasingly important and we would encourage all food producers to partner with FareShare to support families in need, while also combatting operational food waste. They are easy to work with, take good care of our products and support us to tell the story to our colleagues, whether that be through attending events at our sites or hosting volunteers.”
Thank you to Warburtons for your continued support for FareShare Greater Manchester!
If you would like to see how your company can work with FareShare Greater Manchester, please get in touch.
