Food Surplus

Simply put, food surplus occurs when the supply of food exceeds the demand for it. However, there are many ways and reasons this can happen. And it can happen at every stage from farm to fridge to fork involving farmers, manufacturers, retail outlets, hospitality providers and individual households.

Overproduction

It can be difficult for a food producer to correctly estimate the quantity of food to grow or make, particularly taking into account seasonal demand.

There are many different reasons for food surplus including:

Food Imperfection/Off Cuts

Many foods may be discarded (for example fruit and veg or certain cuts of animals) because they are physically imperfect or not as attractive or in demand as other foods/cuts. There can also be leftovers which don't fit standard packing sizes.

Past Best Before Date

This relates to quality not safety. Many people discard food when it has passed its best before date, not knowing it can often be enjoyed for far longer.

Damaged packaging

Food may be discarded because its packaging has become damaged during the manufacturing or transportation process.

Figures provided by waste and resources charity WRAP and The Worldwide Fund, show the scale of the problem of food wastage in the UK.

The annual food waste within UK households, hospitality and food service, food manufacture, retail and wholesale sectors in 2015 was estimated at around 9.5 million tonnes
This had an equivalent value of £19 billion a year
A further 3 million edible tonnes is estimated to be wasted on UK farms every year. That’s another £1.8 billion a year
With around 43 million tonnes of food purchased in the UK, the amount of food wasted is just over a fifth
By weight, household waste makes up a whopping 70 per cent of all food wasted in the UK

There are many organisations and producers working hard to redistribute surplus food. WRAP estimates that in addition to waste, 700,000 tonnes of food surplus from manufacturing, retail and hospitality is being redistributed by charitable and commercial routes or being diverted to produce animal feed.

But are we doing enough and can we do more?

“We have worked with the team from The Bread and Butter Thing since 2016. They are always informative and willing to help develop redistribution streams of work, whether through their own redistribution network or elsewhere. Mark Game and his team really understand how to work collaboratively and are informed and up to date with the redistribution landscape. Together we have developed our thinking and found new opportunities to find a home for food that might otherwise go to waste.”

Steve Butts - Head of Corporate Services - Corporate Responsibility and Code Compliance - Wm Morrisons Supermarkets PLC
“The Bread and Butter Thing have a fantastic attitude towards surplus food, donations and helping people. They’re really easy to work with and are always willing to help. It doesn’t seem to matter what we throw at them, they’re happy to help. Even when the food doesn’t benefit their charity, and that’s what tends to separate them from others, they want to genuinely help and don’t just look at what’s in it for them. A great bunch who know what they’re talking about, always rise to the challenge and who have become good friends of Booths.”

Colin Porter - Customer Experience Manager - Booths
“We choose to work with TBBT as a key redistribution partner for our edible surplus because its team is flexible, responsive and innovative in the way they approach surplus and they are able to take all kinds of product from ingredients through to finished goods. Cranswick has ambitious sustainability plans to have zero edible food waste by 2030 and TBBT are helping us to deliver that whilst ensuring our surplus helps support families who need it.”

Claire Burcham, Group Second Nature Coordinator
“A central part of my role is about how our business deals with food surplus and I was extremely keen to know more about what happens when surplus is redistributed. In working with Mark, it’s great to have a different perspective of how food surplus is managed and to see first-hand the positive impact this has had on TBBT’s local communities. By the end of 2022 we will ensure all of our food surplus goes to feed people who need support, as part of our #StartsWithFood campaign."

Emma Davis, Sustainability Officer – Waste and Food Surplus
“Worldwide Fruit has always been determined to reduce its quantities of edible surplus that go to waste but we needed a redistribution partner that could work flexibly with the complex logistics moving tonnes of fruit around the county.”

Andy Mitchell, Worldwide Fruit’s Senior Technical Manager
"At Westmill Foods we prioritise reducing waste in our operations wherever possible and this includes redistributing surplus food fit for human consumption. We wouldn’t be able to do this without key redistribution partner charities like TBBT, who are able to accept a wide range of stock and ensure it always reaches those who really need it."

Nia Garry, Sustainability Lead, Westmill Foods

Here at The Bread and Butter Thing we are determined to do our bit to reduce food waste in the UK, while at the same time ensuring that surplus food goes to the people who need it the most.

We work closely with our suppliers to encourage and help them to donate their surplus food safely and effectively, which we then redistribute to our network of members, via our food hubs and partners.

With a team that has over 25 years experience, we are experts in this field. We look closely at our suppliers’ business and supply chains, providing them with advice and a reliable service to redistribute their surpluses saving them money, time and resources in the process. Our suppliers also receive regular feedback on their goods and the social impact they are having within the community.

If you're a business that would like to find a good use for your surplus edible food, get in touch at hello@breadandbutterthing.org or find out more about how we work with suppliers.

Meet some more of our brilliant partners

Featured

DIY ready meals from Oscar Mayer

Joining forces with top British food manufacturers, TBBT has demonstrated expertise in working with partners in the manufacturing process itself, rescuing surplus foods that are used in the creation of other products – including components for ready meals.

Read More →

Cranswick

Cranswick is a new supplier for 2021. With local sites based in Hull and Barnsley, Cranswick produces high-quality meat products from sausages and bacon to chicken and gourmet pastries. With an embedded strategy for sustainable food production, the team have worked innovatively to explore new ways of redistributing its edible surplus.

Read More →

Greencore

Greencore is one of the UK’s leading food manufacturers, producing convenience products from sandwiches and soups to Yorkshire puddings and pickles. It has production units in 16 locations across the UK. It puts sustainability at the heart of its operation, embedded within its “Better future plan” which aims to feed people with pride.

Read More →

Worldwide Fruit

Worldwide Fruit is an international fruit marketing and distribution company supplying top quality fruit to the UK’s leading supermarkets. It sources products globally, from over 1000 growers worldwide, ensuring continuity of supply 365 days of the year.

Read More →

Morrisons

Alongside its retail operations, Morrisons is the UK's 2nd largest fresh food manufacturer. It buys many of its fresh products directly from farmers and fishermen, processes products through its own manufacturing sites and abattoirs and distributes through its own network, the only British supermarket to do so.

Read More →

Amazon

Amazon is committed to being a force for good in the communities where it operates. This year, TBBT has received more than 200 tonnes of food – roughly 555,000 meals worth - from Amazon sites across the country, from high quality meat products to milk to ready meals. Not to mention non-food donations of household goods, health and beauty items and even pet food.

Read More →