Hero fresh vegetables on shelves

Surplus food redistribution

Making sure no good food goes to waste

Preventing food waste at source should always be the priority, but surpluses can arise for a number of reasons; for example, food incorrectly labelled, over-ordered, over-supplied or obsolete seasonal stock.

WRAP works with food retailers, manufacturers, hospitality and food service businesses and redistribution organisations, together with industry bodies, to identify ways of increasing the beneficial use of surplus food, by working to remove barriers to surplus food redistribution, investing in redistribution capacity and measuring and reporting changes.

More than 450 million meals

WRAP’s research has shown that where food waste cannot be prevented, there is potential to redistribute the equivalent to around 400 million meals a year.

Read the report

Support available

Surplus Food Redistribution Resource Hub

All the information you need to help increase the redistribution of surplus food, in one place.

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Resource Action Fund

Funding to support surplus food redistribution has been made available under the Resource Action Fund, financed by Defra and managed by WRAP. In 2020 this support was boosted through the COVID-19 Emergency Surplus Food Grant.

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Labelling guidance

The redistribution labelling guide covers date labelling and storage instruction requirements for surplus food, in order for it to be safely redistributed, along with guidance for freezing and relabelling fresh food. The guide outlines simple information across four key food categories that typically carry a ‘Best Before’ date:

Labelling guidance

Food and Drink Surplus Network

Identifies redistribution organisations who can help, including local organisations and those who can take surplus crops.

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Food Waste Reduction Roadmap

Our partnership programme with IGD helps the food and drink sector to 'Target, Measure, Act' on food surplus and waste.

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