How we work together

Protect the charitable purpose of redistribution

The redistribution sector will work collaboratively to ensure that surplus food redistribution remains a social and environmental intervention, not a commercial market. Public and philanthropic investment should be focused on and targeted at the infrastructure required to unlock surplus food at scale, including logistics, processing, technology, storage and coordination, rather than the purchase of food itself. The sector will support the development of policy incentives and proof-of-concept approaches that make redistribution economically viable while maintaining the principle that no additional food should be produced solely for redistribution purposes.

The sector will continue to prioritise redistribution to people in line with the food waste hierarchy and will work towards a shared framework of principles covering surplus, ethics, transparency and public value. Organisations will avoid approaches that risk commercialising redistribution activity or concentrating disproportionate influence over surplus supply, operational infrastructure, data or sector representation within any single organisation.

Maximise the social, environmental and economic value of surplus food

The redistribution sector will ensure that surplus food delivers the greatest possible public benefit by supporting models that combine food access with wider and measurable social, health, environmental and community outcomes. Redistribution should strengthen communities, improve access to nutritious food, reduce waste and carbon emissions, and support preventative approaches that reduce pressure on public services over time.

The sector will continue to prioritise efficient logistics, including backhaul, shared infrastructure and coordinated operations, while upholding the principle that redistribution should make better use of existing surplus rather than create additional demand within the food system. Investment and operational decisions should be guided by social, environmental and economic value, recognising that interventions must remain proportionate, scalable and financially sustainable rather than pursuing volume alone regardless of cost or impact. 

Build a resilient, collaborative and distributed redistribution ecosystem

The redistribution sector will act as a coordinated national ecosystem made up of multiple organisations, models, regions and approaches. Organisations will work collaboratively to avoid unnecessary duplication, displacement or extractive competition that weakens the wider system. Growth and investment should strengthen the resilience, diversity and long-term sustainability of redistribution infrastructure across the UK, ensuring communities in every nation and region are served through complementary and mutually reinforcing approaches.

The sector will support fair and transparent access to surplus food through interoperable systems, shared operational learning and improved visibility of surplus where appropriate. Organisations will avoid exclusive arrangements that unnecessarily restrict access to surplus supply or limit participation across the wider redistribution ecosystem. The sector will also support multiple routes for food businesses, growers and manufacturers to engage with redistribution, helping ensure resilience, flexibility and shared public value across the system.

Xcess and the wider sector should draw on the collective experience, operational insight and expertise of organisations from across the redistribution sector. Contributing organisations will have an equal voice within the collaboration and will be represented fairly and proportionately through external communications, engagement and outreach activity. 

"Our commitment to rescuing quality surplus food to help people and planet is greater than ever.  In these challenging times, too many people are unable to nourish themselves and their families. Our founding principle is to come together to enable businesses to redistribute surplus food safely and reliably. This continues to guide us in our work.”

Richard Gammage, CEO, City Harvest

"By collaborating we hope to develop new standards for the industry, explore best working practices and connect with food producers and sellers to ensure that every family has access to healthy, nutritious food."

Rene Meijer, Food Works