Faversham-based brewery and pub company Shepherd Neame has named FareShare as its Charity of the Year for 2023/24.

FareShare is the UK’s biggest charity fighting hunger and food waste. It works with the food industry to get good to eat food, that might otherwise go to waste, to a network of 8,500 charities and community groups across the UK.These charities help tackle the root causes of poverty, and provide vital services including homelessness shelters, lunch clubs for elderly people suffering with isolation, and support with issues including debt, employment and mental health.

Shepherd Neame's Chief Executive Jonathan Neame said: “We are committed to doing the right thing for our communities, our people and our environment. In light of the ongoing cost of living crisis, we wanted to choose a charity partner which made a real difference to families and individuals in need. FareShare’s ethos also fits with our ongoing efforts throughout the business to limit waste and recycle wherever possible, in line with our pledge to achieve zero waste to landfill by 2025.”

Last year FareShare provided the equivalent of 128 million meals to charities and groups across the UK, , reaching 1 million people. For every £1 raised by Shepherd Neame, FareShare will be able to provide the equivalent of 4 meals*.

The Sheps Giving committee, which oversees Shepherd Neame’s charity initiatives and donations, will be working with FareShare to organise fundraising and promotional activities at the brewery and across its pub estate throughout the next 12 months. These include a pledge to donate 50p from every Kids Meal Deal sold across its managed pubs and hotel to the charity. Visit www.shepherdneame.co.uk/sheps-giving.co.uk for full terms and conditions.

As part of its fundraising activities, Shepherd Neame continues to partner with Pennies, the digital charity box. Customers drinking and dining at selected pubs are invited to make a 25 pence donation when they spend over £10 and pay on a card via Chip & Pin. Every penny given goes to charity: 90% to FareShare and 10% to Pennies.

For more information about FareShare visit fareshare.org.uk

Find out more about Sheps Giving at www.shepherdneame.co.uk/sheps-giving

* Based on WRAP’s guidelines that the average meal size is 420g: https://preprod.wrap.org.uk/system/files/2020-09/WRAP-Expressing%20redistributed%20food%20surplus%20as%20meal%20equivalents%20%28WRAP%20guidance%29.pdf