Preventing food waste at source should always be the priority, but surpluses can arise for a number of reasons; for example, food incorrectly labelled, over-ordered, over-supplied or obsolete seasonal stock.
WRAP works with food retailers, manufacturers, hospitality and food service businesses and redistribution organisations, together with industry bodies, to identify ways of increasing the beneficial use of surplus food, by working to remove barriers to surplus food redistribution, investing in redistribution capacity and measuring and reporting changes.
191,000 tonnes
2023 showed a further increase in food available for redistribution with approximately 191,000 tonnes of surplus food being received by redistribution organisations, equating to nearly 456 million meals with a value of around £764 million.
See the 2023 dataSupport available
Surplus Food Redistribution Resource Hub
All the information you need to help increase the redistribution of surplus food, in one place.
Resource Action Fund
Funding to support surplus food redistribution has been made available under the Resource Action Fund, financed by Defra and managed by WRAP. In 2020 this support was boosted through the COVID-19 Emergency Surplus Food Grant.
Labelling guidance
The redistribution labelling guide covers date labelling and storage instruction requirements for surplus food, in order for it to be safely redistributed, along with guidance for freezing and relabelling fresh food. It outlines simple information across six key food categories that typically carry a ‘Best Before’ date.
Food and Drink Surplus Network
Identifies redistribution organisations who can help, including local organisations and those who can take surplus crops.
Food Waste Reduction Roadmap
Our partnership programme with IGD helps the food and drink sector to 'Target, Measure, Act' on food surplus and waste.