Alliance Food Sourcing targets 1M kilos of meat and fish for redistribution in 2026

Eight million people go hungry in the UK, including 2.1 million children. Yet most frontline charities say they cannot meet demand for food, and historically, less than 5% of the food they receive to redistribute is meat. 

This is set to change with a new ambition and the support of meat producers, 2SFG, Dovecote Park, Hilton Food Group and Cranswick. 

Alliance Food Sourcing (AFS) is a coalition focused on rescuing edible, surplus food and unlocking surplus resource from across the UK food supply chain, turning it into meals for charities. 

AFS brings together more than 50 leading UK food businesses and focuses on categories where charity need is greatest, such as fruit and vegetables, cupboard staples and protein. 

Recognising the challenge food redistribution charities face in sourcing good quality protein in reliable quantities, AFS has set an ambition of securing 1 million kilograms of minced beef, fresh and frozen chicken, pork and fish this year. This will mean being able to provide almost 5 million portions of protein, based on a typical serving size of 180 grams. 

The alliance is working with 2SFG, Dovecote Park, Hilton Food Group and Cranswick to help ensure charities have greater access to meat. Their focus is on versatile cuts that can be prepared simply, and cooked quickly and easily, by people who need it most. 

The wholesale value of the protein that AFS is confident of securing is around £4.5 million, demonstrating the significant scale of effort being made to create a real impact. 

Catherine David, CEO of WRAP, said: "We support all efforts to redistribute high value and nutritious food that would otherwise go to waste.  

Meat production has a particularly high environmental footprint. The land, energy, water, feed and time that go into producing animal protein are lost when meat is wasted.  

This ambition reminds us of the scale of food waste from farm to family kitchens. Tackling waste right across the supply chain is one of the simplest ways to reduce the environmental impact of food, and to save businesses, people and communities money - a true win-win." 

Ranjit Singh, President of 2 Sisters Food Group Ltd, said: "Partnerships like this show the positive impact our industry can have, when we work together to tackle food waste and improve access to nutritious protein.  

At 2 Sisters Food Group, we're proud to support an initiative that helps ensure more good food reaches the people who need it most.  

Using realistic portion sizes also helps demonstrate the true scale of the difference these collaborations can make, for communities across the UK." 

Richard Canvin, CEO, Dovecote Park Ltd, said: “We are proud to be part of such a worthwhile and beneficial scheme that directs food surplus to people in society who need it the most. By using small mince-based portions, that give flexibility to multiple recipes and meal solutions, charities can support a wider group of people. 

This initiative also takes advantage of surplus packaging that would otherwise end up as waste, ultimately improving the environmental impact of business.” 

Nicola Robinson, Director of Alliance Food Sourcing, said: "We are well on our way to achieving our target for 2026 and believe we will secure close to 5 million portions of protein. 

The cost of protein can be high, which limits opportunities for charities and the people who depend on them to access it reliably. We are very grateful to our partners who have stepped forward and collaborated with us so brilliantly. 

Every portion secured represents more opportunities for charities to provide balanced, nutritious meals to the people they support." 

Editors’ notes  

The Alliance Food Sourcing coalition is led by IGD (Institute of Grocery Distribution), The Felix Project and FareShare. Born out of the Coronation Food Project, inspired by King Charles, AFS brings together supermarkets, suppliers, logistics providers and charities to find joint solutions to the challenges of hunger and waste.