Surplus Kitchen

By saving unsold surplus food and redistributing it to those in need, we can both address people’s essential needs and reduce the environmental impact of food waste.

Feeding people, not landfill

While food insecurity continues to rise across the UK, tons of perfectly edible food is still being thrown away. By partnering with wholesalers, local food producers, and community organisations, we redistribute surplus food as well as transform it into healthy, nutritious meals.

The Active Wellbeing Society and the Birmingham Wholesale Market, supported by Birmingham City Council’s Public Health team, have worked together to engage traders to donate fresh, unsold produce that would otherwise go to anaerobic digestion. This food is stored on-site in our warehouse, or sent directly to our on-site kitchen to be cooked into healthy, nutritious meals, and is distributed through the Food Justice Network – a coalition of over 250 community groups and kitchens tackling poverty head-on.

Corporate and team-building

Looking for a unique team volunteering experience or a unique team-building environment? Take part in a fun ‘cook-off’ in our market kitchen – lunch and meeting space are also available.

Catering

Freshly-made food direct from the wholesale markets. Order food for your events and support the work that we do to provide this food for communities in need across the city and help reduce waste.

I’d like to donate my surplus

The Birmingham Surplus Food Network (BSFN) connects food businesses and community organisations to food hubs to ensure no edible food goes to waste and surplus food is redistributed where it is needed most.

NEW: Fermentation Worshops – learn about food preservation techniques and make your own chutney! Find out more

Our Food Hub and Kitchen

We have a 115sqm food hub warehouse and high-capacity commercial kitchen situated at the Birmingham Wholesale Market.

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Creating long-lasting positive change is complex – let’s work together to make it happen.