IGD’s mission to ensure continued supply to food banks

IGD, the research and training charity for the grocery industry, has been coordinating with various stakeholders to ensure the consistent supply of essentials to the food banks in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Two weeks ago, as the pandemic escalated, and with the support of Defra, we pulled organisations together from our industry to ensure the continued supply of products into foodbanks to help feed a vulnerable section of society,” said Susan Barratt, chief executive of IGD.

“I am delighted to say that some 40 companies have stepped forward, with more coming through every day, to offer their support by donating product and funds now and in the coming weeks.”

IGD is working with food surplus charity FareShare and other charitable food redistributors to connect the food and consumer goods industry with the needy.

“FareShare, and the charity food redistributors, are well set up to continue to manage the distribution of food out into the community. IGD is delighted to be able to work closely with these charities to support the coordination of donations in what is a hugely challenging environment for us all,” Barratt added.

As the country faces its biggest crisis since World War Two, food banks which normally serve meals in the poorest boroughs have closed so food distribution charities are left to deliver food parcels to people’s doors.

Lindsay Boswell, chief executive of FareShare, said: “The response from the food industry working together through IGD has yet again showed its values and character in the same way it has responded to the pandemic in fields, factories, distribution warehouses and supermarkets.

“We have seen more than 500 new charities and community groups register for food in just the last week alone. On behalf of everyone involved in reaching out to those in need in our local communities a massive thank you.”

Boswell said FareShare will now coordinate with the individual companies to ensure supplies to its own national redistribution network, and to food banks and other charity food redistributors as well.

Use of food banks in Britain has surged in recent years. The amount of food distributed by the Trussell Trust, which runs around 1,200 of the country’s 2,000 food banks, has risen 73 percent in the past five years.