SPAR partners with FareShare to deliver One Million Meals project

SPAR is partnering with FareShare, the UK’s biggest charity fighting hunger and tackling food waste, to provide the equivalent of one million meals through local charities in cities, towns and villages across the UK, as part of the Giving One Million Meals project.

The campaign started on 21 September and will run in SPAR stores around the UK until 1 November 2023. 

FareShare is the UK’s longest running food redistribution charity who believe that no good food should go to waste, especially when people are going hungry. This belief is as central to their work now as it was 25 years ago. According to FareShare, seven million people in the UK are struggling to afford to eat. This represents 1 in 10 of the UK population.

Suzanne Dover, SPAR UK brand and marketing director, said: “Our partnership with FareShare will see £250,000 donated, and for every £1 given FareShare can redistribute enough food for the equivalent of four meals to people in need across the UK. We believe in supporting the communities we serve, and this partnership means that people won’t have to go without the staples we all use each day.”

Britvic and Coca-Cola are part of SPAR’s first One Million Meals campaign, which will be supported with POS in-store to hero SPAR own label products store cupboard staples, Robinsons squash and Coke Zero.

Polly Bianchi, director of fundraising at FareShare, said: “The Giving One Million Meals donation from SPAR, with contributions from Coca-Cola and Robinsons, will make a significant contribution to our work getting good-to-eat food, which might otherwise go to waste, to people who need it.

“As the winter months approach, our network of 8,500 charities across the UK will be working hard to provide hearty, nourishing meals for people in their communities. Each group provides vital wraparound services to support people impacted by the cost of living crisis and the contribution made by SPAR will go a long way to strengthening those communities.”

To coincide with the launch of the Giving One Million Meals project with FareShare, a study of 2,000 adults was commissioned by SPAR. It has discovered how food essentials have changed over time, as well as attitudes towards food waste and helping others who may be experiencing food insecurity. 

The new research has revealed that British cupboards are now home to food staples few would have even heard of in 1980, like couscous, harissa and coconut milk.

One in three homes now have a bottle of soy sauce available at all times, while 25% consider balsamic vinegar an essential ingredient. A tenth of kitchens have rice crackers stocked but corned beef, condensed milk and SPAM are things people would find in their parent’s or grandparent’s cupboards only. Baked beans, biscuits and tinned soup are goods that have stood the test of time for over 40 years.

Suzanne Dover added: “We understand how important it is to have the cupboard essentials you need to hand and it’s really interesting to see how our essentials have changed over the years and which are still our firm favourites.”