For more than six years, Nationwide Produce PLC and FareShare have worked together to make sure good food reaches people, not landfill.

As one of the UK’s leading fresh produce businesses, Nationwide Produce manages everything from growing and packaging to trading and exporting. With high-quality standards across the supply chain, some surplus food is unavoidable, but instead of letting that food go to waste, Nationwide chose to make a difference.

That decision has now helped provide an incredible 2 million meals to vulnerable communities through FareShare.

The partnership is a powerful example of how businesses can combine corporate social responsibility, sustainability goals, and community impact to create meaningful change.

Going Beyond Food Redistribution

This year, the relationship between Nationwide Produce and FareShare Midlands has grown even stronger through fundraising, employee engagement and volunteering.

When FareShare Midlands called for runners to take part in the Great Birmingham Run, the Nationwide team stepped forward.

Colleagues Will, Paul and Alfie took on the challenge and raised an incredible £2,340 - enough to help provide more than 5,500 meals to people facing hardship across the Midlands.

Will Clayton, Group Director, said:

“Taking part in the Great Birmingham Run was a fantastic opportunity to support the incredible work FareShare does every day. As a business, we’re proud to work closely with FareShare, and I’m pleased to have played a small part in helping raise awareness and funds for this important cause.”

Paul Weetman, Sales and Procurement Manager, added:

“It was a pleasure and an honour to run for FareShare at the Great Birmingham Run, raising awareness of the important work the charity does in the challenging world we live in. Great to see so many others involved in the race doing the same.”

Team Building with Purpose

The partnership didn’t stop at fundraising.

Following the run, a team from Nationwide Produce visited FareShare Midlands’ new Birmingham site - the Sir Peter Rigby Coronation Food Hub - for a Team Away Day and Corporate Cookdown session.

The experience gave staff the opportunity to work together in the kitchen, transform surplus food into nutritious meals, and gain first-hand insight into how FareShare supports local charities and community groups.

Craig Haunch, IT Manager, stated that he: “thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience - it was fun, engaging, and genuinely eye-opening from start to finish. It was great to gain an insight into the surplus food available and to see how it can be transformed into amazing dishes.

I also found it to be an excellent team-building experience. I’ve already recommended the experience to others here, and there’s definitely plenty of interest from people wanting to take part in the future.”

Creating Social Impact Together

Partnerships like this show the difference businesses can make when they invest in their communities.

Whether through surplus food redistribution, corporate volunteering, fundraising events, or team-building days with purpose, companies can help tackle food waste, support local charities, and strengthen communities across the Midlands.