FareShare Go allows eligible organisations to collect surplus food for free from their local supermarket. This service is available across the South West, whether or not you have full FareShare South West membership.
How does it work?
Our FareShare Go service links up local charities, schools and community organisations with their local participating supermarket. When the supermarket has surplus food, they send out a text notification to organisations. The organisation then collects the food themselves from the supermarket either that night or the next day- simple!
How is it different to full FareShare South West membership?
FareShare Go takes food from the supermarket (retail) level of the food industry. Full FareShare South West membership, on the other hand takes food from the wholesale and manufacturing levels of the food industry. Surplus food occurs throughout the supply chain- here’s a breakdown of how much occurs at each level:
- Farms: 100,000-500,000 tonnes
- Processing and manufacturing: 52,000-160,000 tonnes
- Wholesale and distribution: 80,000-120,000 tonnes
- Retail: 47,000-110,000 tonnes
Figures from WRAP, Quantification of food surplus, 2016
What kind of food can I receive?
Unlike our full membership service which supplies you with most food types from our Bristol warehouse, the kind of food available through FareShare Go depends on what surplus food is available at a particular supermarket each day.
This might be vegetables, bakery items or fruit, and sometimes items such as fresh chicken, meat and other chilled items. small amounts of meat or processed foods. The food available to you is good quality food that can no longer be sold. This could be because it has damaged packaging, a short-shelf life. This doesn’t have an impact on the standard or safety of the food items available. Food available often includes bread, eggs and fresh fruit. It will always be within its use by date and good to eat.
FareShare Go takes food from the supermarket (retail) level of the supply chain. There is a smaller quantity and variety of surplus food at this level, and FareShare Go isn’t designed to provide you with all your food needs. It will provide you a supplement to your existing food supply that is free, good quality and tasty too!
If you use food on a regular basis, then full membership may be of interest in addition to collecting FareShare Go food to cover all your food needs. Find out more about full membership.
