The Bread and Butter Thing

The Bread and Butter Thing is an affordable food service. We make life more affordable for people on a low income, build stronger communities and reduce food waste using surplus food to create weekly community food clubs across the north of England. Each week, our members receive at least £35 worth of quality fruit and veg, chilled goods and cupboard staples for just £7.50.

Website: breadandbutterthing.org/ Contact: Justin Pritchard, Food Development Manager / [email protected] / Mark Game, CEO / [email protected]

Impact in numbers (as at March 2022)

• In 2021 we served the equivalent of 7.6million meals and saved our members over £2.9million

• 88% of members say that using The Bread and Butter Thing enables them to afford to feed their families

• 88% of members say that using The Bread and Butter Thing has given them the opportunity to try new foods with 75% saying they are now eating more fresh fruit and veg

Examples of industry partners

• Morrisons, Asda, Iceland, Booths, Amazon, Co-op, Sainsbury's

• Greencore, Samworth Borthers, Westmill, Minor Weir and Wells, Worldwide Fruit, Total Produce, Cranswick, Muller, GXO Costa Whitbread

• Kelloggs, Quorn, Dawn Foods, Greene King, Soreen, Pukka Pies

What we do with the food

We run an affordable service. Each week members receive 3 bags of food including fresh fruit and veg, chilled goods and cupboard staples. It costs them £7.50 and we guarantee at least £35 of food. Last year members saved more than £2.9m using The Bread and Butter Thing.

Operations

We can handle all food types from across the food chain. We have two warehouses – one in Trafford Manchester and one in County Durham. Both are equipped with fridges and freezers. We have a fleet of 14 vans (including freezer vans) which enable us to collect food where necessary. Each warehouse has access for artic vehicles and trained forklift truck operators.

Wider network

The Bread and Butter Thing is one of the founding members of the Xcess Independent Redistribution Network

Key programmes/capabilities

We have innovative partnerships in place which allow us to use “difficult” surplus such as ingredients which we cook into ready meals with Open Kitchen Manchester.

Testimonial

“Never in a million years did I think I would be in a situation where I had to choose between food or bills because money was so tight. I am 53 years old, have worked since I was 14, and never claimed benefits until October 2020 due to COVID. We managed to stay afloat from March 2020 without work or income but then things became too much.

A neighbour’s daughter told us about The Bread and Butter Thing and it has been a life saver. Not just the food but the knowing that there is always something coming every week. THANK YOU so much.”

Paula, The Bread and Butter Thing Member