Gail’s Bakery has partnered with community investment and engagement platform Neighbourly to distribute surplus food.
Neighbourly matches businesses with local causes, and has helped Gail’s pair its bakeries with more than 400 local organisations and charities.
Wrap (Waste and Resources Action Programme) estimates UK food surplus in primary production stands at 3.6 million tonnes a year, which is about 7.2% of all production. The amount of food wasted in this country each year would make more than 15 billion meals, it said.
Gail’s hopes its work with local charities will help ensure as little food is wasted as possible, and that the food distributed goes to those who need it most and gets to them in the most sustainable way.
Other waste reduction work by the business, which has more than 100 sites across the UK, includes the Waste Not range. Launched in 2020, this uses leftover food to produce a range of products.
It was preceded by the launch of Waste Bread, now called Waste Less Sourdough, in 2018. The sourdough loaves aremade by turning surplus bread into porridge which is then added into a dough.
Gail’s has previously partnered with more than 90 charities over the course of the past 18 years, and stated its vision is to continue positively impacting communities and the environment.
It said Neighbourly is set to help the business to continue to keep community at the centre of its mission and make a positive impact in neighbourhoods and the food system.
The bakery has this year ramped up its Waitrose partnership, with branded Gail’s fixtures rolling out to 64 supermarkets. As part of this move, Waitrose is doubling the range of Gail’s sourdough loaves and other baked goods it stocks, adding new lines from crackers to baguettes, bagels, and muffins.
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