FareShare Sussex & Surrey to open new warehouse in Guildford

Food waste charity FareShare Sussex & Surrey is set to double its capacity for surplus food to help those in need after signing the lease for a new warehouse in Guildford, Surrey.

The new facility means the charity will be able to receive and store twice as much nutritious surplus food to deliver to charities and community groups across the two counties to help fight hunger in deprived communities. It is the charity’s second warehouse and its first Surrey base and will support operations alongside its warehouse in Brighton.

It comes as demand for FareShare Sussex & Surrey’s services has soared amid the cost-of-living crisis, hitting record levels this winter, with demand expected to remain high in 2024.

The charity is busy kitting out the new warehouse in Guildford in preparation for receiving surplus food from new suppliers and is calling on businesses in the food industry who could help to get involved. The warehouse has good transport links and is situated near the A3, A23 and M25, making it easier for businesses in the area to partner with the charity. Local suppliers already signed up include ABP, ReNourish, Compleat Foods, Lactalis, KFC, Nando’s and Brakes.

A recruitment drive and training for Surrey-based volunteers will also begin soon, before the Guildford warehouse officially opens in the spring. There are a variety of ways to volunteer, from working in the office to helping with deliveries and collections, sorting food in the warehouse and fundraising. Volunteers can give as little as three hours a week.

The new space will also include a training room to extend the charity’s successful employability programme to Surrey residents.

Anand Darshan, warehouse manager at FareShare Sussex & Surrey in Guildford, said: “We are just getting our warehouse ready to accept food, and we are installing a large capacity freezer and chiller, fitting shelving and storage areas.

“We hope to be able to accept food by April and start serving our local community. We are registering volunteers in the Guildford area, so we can have them trained up and ready to start when we open.”

Dan Slatter, CEO of FareShare Sussex & Surrey said: “We are delighted to be opening our new warehouse in Guildford, perfectly placed to help us double the capacity for surplus food.

“This will enable us to deliver to more charities and community groups across the region. It will also give us space for a training room to expand our employability programme supporting people back into work.” 

FareShare Sussex & Surrey rescues and redistributes surplus food to more than 150 local organisations across the counties, helping to combat hunger, prevent waste and reduce carbon emissions at the same time.

The charity helps those who live in areas with the highest levels of deprivation, working with groups that provide healthy meals and support such as advice, guidance, health support, counselling and befriending to help break the cycle of poverty.

To register interest in volunteering for FareShare Sussex and Surrey, please visit: www.faresharesussexandsurrey.org.uk/sign-up/

Businesses interested in becoming a supplier for FareShare Sussex and Surrey can find out more at: www.faresharesussexandsurrey.org.uk/suppliers/

For more information, please visit: www.faresharesussexandsurrey.org.uk.  

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Editors notes

FareShare Sussex & Surrey rescues surplus food from businesses, supermarkets and farms. This food is nutritious, in-date, and safe and includes a high proportion of fresh vegetables, fruit, meat and fish. If the charity did not rescue this food, it would be at risk of going to waste. Instead, they deliver it to charities, schools, food banks, community pantries and fridges and other organisations serving vulnerable people.

In 2022, the charity delivered food for 2.5 million meals supporting 17,370 people a week at risk of food poverty. Food poverty is a huge and growing problem, and 13.4 million people including 4 million children in the UK live in households that struggle to afford to buy enough fruit, vegetables, fish and other healthy foods.