The owner of a boutique hotel group has donated a seven-figure-sum to launch a new food hub following the King’s call for help to fight food poverty and unemployment.
Sir Peter Rigby, whose business Rigby Group owns the Eden Hotel Collection, opened the new Sir Peter Rigby Coronation Food Hub in Gravelly Park, Birmingham after donating £2 million to the initiative.
The funding was made via the Sir Peter Rigby Charitable Trust, and the facility is being operated by FareShare Midlands as it aims to redistribute seven million meals annually across the West Midlands using surplus food from across the food industry – from farms to producers and retailers.
It has been launched in response to King’s call to businesses to step up and help stop 10 billion meals worth of edible food being wasted annually in the UK.
FareShare Midlands currently redistributes surplus food to 650 charities, community groups and schools across the region, helping to feed around 60,000 people weekly.
The new food hub will double charitable food redistribution capacity in the West Midlands – meaning that seven million meals will be distributed annually using 3,000 tonnes of surplus food.
Beyond food, it will also enable local people to access training in warehousing, catering and technology, supporting 500 people annually into sustainable employment.
One of Eden Hotel Collection’s executive head chefs, MasterChef: The Professionals winner Stu Deeley, was also on hand at the food hub launch to serve handcrafted meals made using produce donated to FareShare Midlands.
Stu was supported by some of Halesowen College’s level 3 professional cookery students, thanks to support from the college’s chef lecturer, Chris Hughes.
Sir Peter said:
“I have always believed that success in business should go hand in hand with giving back. I came from a humble background, and I am very aware that not everyone is fortunate enough to have a good start in life.
“Never before has it been as tough to feed families as it is now due to the cost-of-living crisis. I am honoured to be part of the King’s fantastic initiative that will directly support my local community and reduce food poverty across the region.”
Stu Deeley added:
“Healthy, nutritious meals don’t have to cost the earth or lots of time, and this new hub has a crucial role to play in not only providing access to food, but educating the community on how to create low cost, high nutrition meals – and this is something I am looking forward to supporting them on in the future.”
Simone Connolly, FareShare Midlands CEO, added:
“The Coronation Food Hub represents a powerful step forward in tackling food poverty and unemployment.
“This cutting edge facility will not only enable FareShare Midlands to redistribute substantially more surplus food to those who need it most, but also to help break the cycle of poverty through training and employment opportunities for local people.
“We are incredibly grateful to Sir Peter Rigby and his Charitable Trust for the generous support and commitment to creating lasting change.”