His Majesty The King toured Greencore’s Warrington food manufacturing site this week to see first-hand how the food industry is driving innovation to tackle food waste. During the visit, The King watched the Greencore team prepare examples of the one million fresh, high-quality meals the business has donated to community groups over the past year through the Coronation Food Project.
In November 2023, senior leaders from across the UK food industry united at the launch of the Coronation Food Project, signing a historic pledge to reduce all forms of waste within the food supply chain and to increase the redistribution of surplus food to those most in need. To help turn this ambition into action, the industry created Alliance Food Sourcing – a groundbreaking initiative convened by IGD. This has already enabled the rescue of over 11 million additional meals from surplus food, surplus production capacity and industry donations, including one million from Greencore alone.
As a leading manufacturer of convenience food, Greencore is one of the pioneering businesses supporting the Alliance Food Sourcing initiative. Working in partnership with Sainsbury’s, it has contributed around 400 tonnes of food to communities in need through the Coronation Food Project. This impact has been made possible through a range of innovative approaches across the Greencore network, from freeing up production capacity by moving volumes between sites during quieter seasonal periods, to producing and donating meals created in addition to customer order volumes, and redirecting surplus ingredients into high‑quality, nutritious meals rather than letting them go to waste.
During the visit, The King saw these innovations in action, meeting the teams who design and deliver them. He also met Greencore’s engineering apprentices, who are being trained as the company’s next generation of multi‑skilled engineers, essential to enabling a sustainable, low‑waste and future‑focused food sector.
Dalton Philips, CEO of Greencore Group, said: “It was a privilege to welcome The King and to showcase the innovation happening across Greencore. From pioneering new ways to reduce food waste to developing the highly skilled engineers of the future, our teams are proving just how dynamic and forward‑thinking the food industry can be. Reaching one million donated meals is an important milestone – and one we are committed to building on as we continue to support communities and push for a more sustainable food system.”
Nicola Robinson, director of Alliance Food Sourcing said: “The food industry really is stepping up to the challenge and Greencore is one of those leading the way. Through the Coronation Food Project, thousands of tonnes of healthy nutritious food, which might otherwise have gone to waste, are reaching the plates of hungry people. I am so pleased we are able to recognise the achievements of companies across the sector at this visit today.”
Dame Martina Milburn DCVO CBE, executive chair of The Coronation Food Project, said: “As the cost-of-living crisis continues to put pressure on families across the UK, it’s so great to see this initiative making such a difference. Through these innovative approaches, we are tackling food waste, reducing greenhouse gases and getting food out to the community groups that are experiencing unprecedented demand.”
The extra food is being circulated via Coronation Food Project partners FareShare and The Felix Project to charities and groups across the UK supporting people in need. The meals, which are prepared, packed and delivered to the same quality and nutrition standards as products available through supermarkets, are especially beneficial for people with limited cooking facilities, such as those in temporary accommodation.
