It’s a simple and hugely effective idea. Rescue high quality surplus food that cannot be sold and would otherwise go to waste, and distribute it to over 1,200 community organisations across London – organisations that are helping to feed people experiencing hunger, and which range from food banks, community centres, homeless shelters and primary schools.

The Felix Project aims to reduce the negative impact that food waste has on the environment by working with over 300 suppliers from across the food industry, including supermarkets, wholesalers, farms and restaurants to ensure more food ends up getting to people and not going in the bin. Big name suppliers include Ocado, Amazon Fresh, Hello Fresh, Western International Market and Sainsburys.

The charity has four depots around the capital which give it the ability to provide food to organisations in every London borough.

Balanced
In Poplar, East London there is also Felix’s Kitchen, where chefs transform surplus produce into around 5,000 healthy and balanced meals every day. These pre-cooked meals are then sent to the community organisations, alongside the food.

There is a fleet of over 50 distinctive green vans that go out every day, morning and afternoon, delivering and picking up surplus food. To make sure everything is as efficient as possible, the vans go out with food to deliver and come back full of food from suppliers.

Volunteers
Once the food comes into the depots, it is quickly sorted and sent back out to ensure it gets to people who need it as quickly as possible. The Felix Project would not operate without the support of an army of volunteers. Every day, hundreds of people help sort the food, prepare and cook it in the kitchen or drive the vans. Last year, 13,000 people gave up their time to help.

In 2024, the charity rescued almost 16,000 tonnes of food, and redistributed the equivalent of 38 million meals. In 2025, the figure is forecast to increase to 42 million.

Skipping meals
Sadly, the need is huge. The Felix Project recently surveyed 4.000 working parents who had children at home, across the UK. The survey found that four in ten were skipping meals or not buying food for themselves so that their children could eat. One in five say they are having to do it regularly – this equates to more than 1.5 million families.

Merger
It was recently announced that The Felix Project would be merging with FareShare UK. Felix is already part of the FareShare network which in 2024, through its 17 independent network partners, redistributed the equivalent of 148 million meals to over 8,000 charities across the UK. This year, the combined resources and innovation of the new outfit will result in even more food being rescued and more people reached.

Visit the website to see how you can get involved – supplying, funding or volunteering
www.thefelixproject.org