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.
During 2021, Greencore continued to be one of TBBT’s staunchest supporters, delivering 48 tonnes of food from across its production ranges. From vegan gravies to new pasta cooking sauces, members even had an exclusive first taste of some of the UK’s biggest new bestsellers as Greencore delivered tubs of their NPD – new product development – items as well as catering size portions of cheddar cheese and mayonnaise, perfect for TBBT’s ready meals with Open Kitchen or our other partners to cook up for their community meals.
But the relationship between the two organisations is about more than simple redistribution. Emma Davis, part of Greencore’s Sustainability team, has spent time at TBBT during the past 12 months, working with CEO Mark Game as her mentor. A major part of Emma’s role is looking at ways to minimise the company’s impact on the environment, particularly focusing on how to reduce and repurpose complex surpluses such as product ends and bulk ingredients.
“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.
In particular, I was greatly encouraged to see the strong relationships TBBT has built with local communities, and I believe it’s something Greencore can learn from. The bigger challenge, of course, is with higher costs of living, the impact will be greater in more deprived areas, meaning demand for affordable and nutritious food will be higher.”
