City Harvest, the London-based food redistribution charity, continues to make a profound impact on the UK’s food industry, rescuing surplus food and delivering it to those in need. At Food, Drink & Hospitality Week 2025, the organisation showcased its essential work, reinforcing its role as a sustainable solution for food waste in hospitality and beyond.

Tackling Food Waste in Hospitality

City Harvest CEO, Sarah Calcutt, joined an expert panel discussion at HRC 2025, alongside Jess Latchford of Waste Knot and Hugh Jones of WRAP. Hosted by Juliane Caillouette-Noble and also featuring Hugh Jones, Specialist - Food Waste Prevention at WRAP and Jess Latchford, Director - Waste Knot, the session focused on practical strategies for reducing food waste across the hospitality sector and marked the beginning of Food Waste Action Week. The discussion underscored the urgent need for businesses to adopt sustainable practices that prioritise redistribution over disposal.

Transforming Surplus Food into Social Good

The scale of food waste in the UK remains a pressing issue, with 1 in 4 people struggling to access nutritious food and 1 in 3 parents skipping meals to feed their children. City Harvest is at the forefront of addressing this crisis by working with all levels of the supply chain, including farms, manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, and hospitality businesses such as caterers, hotels, and canteens. The organisation currently redistributes 1.25 million meals each month, reaching 130,000 people across more than 30 London boroughs.

The Impact of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week

As part of its ongoing collaboration with Montgomery Group, City Harvest collected 5.5 tonnes of surplus food from exhibitors at HRC and its sister events, equating to 13,575 meals delivered to charities across London. This partnership enables exhibiting businesses to contribute meaningfully to food redistribution efforts, ensuring that quality food is diverted from waste streams and into the hands of those who need it most.

For every 10kg of food redistributed, City Harvest delivers an estimated £35.50 of positive impact to both food recipients and donors. The organisation’s work not only addresses immediate food poverty but also helps community partners—such as schools, food banks, shelters, and refugee projects—free up resources to invest in other vital services.

A Call to Action for the Industry

City Harvest’s presence at Food, Drink & Hospitality Week 2025 served as a powerful reminder of the industry’s role in tackling food waste. With the hospitality sector generating significant amounts of surplus food, businesses have the opportunity to be part of a sustainable solution that benefits both people and the planet.

To learn more about City Harvest and how to get involved, visit www.cityharvest.org.uk.