Compass Scotland partners with food charity FareShare

As more individuals and families struggle to cope with the rising cost of living, Compass Scotland has unveiled a new partnership with FareShare, which aims to encourage Compass sites across Scotland to work with the food charity to donate surplus food so that meals can be distributed to those who need it most.

The food FareShare distributes – such as fresh fruit, veg, meat and non-perishable items including pasta and tins – is surplus, but still good to eat and would otherwise go to waste. FareShare provides food to almost 9,500 projects across the UK, including community centres, foodbanks and homeless shelters.

Launched as a distinct business in November 2020, Compass Scotland is part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, which has worked alongside FareShare on a national level since 2014. In 2021, Compass’ donations amounted to the equivalent of more than 200,000 meals for people in need, supporting 2,510 charities in the process.

Compass Scotland has kicked off the partnership at one of its largest sites, the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow. In July, seven employees from the SEC Food team spent time with the FareShare Glasgow team at its warehouse, supporting the volunteers as they sorted through surplus food, preparing it for donation. In total, they helped FareShare sort through six tonnes of food, which was the equivalent of 14,286 meals.

The SEC also diverted 1.5 tonnes of surplus food to 42 charities and community groups in Scotland between April and June 2022. This equated to 3,600 meals, helping to prevent 2.4 tonnes of embedded CO₂e. Compass Scotland now plans to expand the partnership across the business to as many of its sites as possible.

Managing Director of Compass Scotland, David Hay, said: “Food waste is a significant driver of climate change, with around a third of all food produced globally lost or wasted – and so understanding and minimising food waste is something that Compass Scotland is very eager to continue to address.

“Working with FareShare is something we’re all really motivated to get behind at Compass Scotland. There’s something significant in taking an existing relationship that we have with the Group and driving it forward in Scotland, making sure that surplus Scottish food is going to Scottish people in need.”

Jon Molyneux, Scottish Affairs Lead at FareShare, said: “No one can escape the news about the rising cost of living, and so this partnership with Compass Scotland has come at such a crucial time. FareShare supports hundreds of community organisations across Scotland that help turn surplus good food into meals for people, as well as working to tackle the causes of their hunger. We look forward to working with the Compass Scotland team to ensure good surplus food gets onto the plates of those in Scotland who need it most.”