Food

We accept all types of food, ambient, chilled, frozen.

We accept surplus food from all parts of the food supply chain that occurs due to things like:

• New product development testing
• Order cancellations 
• Packaging errors and damage 
• Quality rejects 
• Out of date product past its best before date 
• Discontinued product lines 
• Obsolete seasonal stock 
• Machinery failure and start-up calibrations 
• Strict sell-by dates 
• Consumer demand for cosmetically perfect produce 
• Packaging/branding changes 
• Sales forecasting errors

We can collect all kinds of products including chilled and frozen, and we’re able to blast-freeze products at our warehouse to extend product life.  

• Food must be unopened, in its original packaging. We can take products with damaged packaging as long as the food itself is not exposed.  
• Food must have labels with ingredients, allergens and best-before/use-by dates.  
• Ideally, food will have 2-3 days before its ‘use by’ date to allow for redistribution through our charity partners, although we can often take food on its ‘use by’ date.   
• We can take most food past its best before date and are able to officially extend best-before dates. 
• Food must be stored indoors and at the correct temperature until we collect. 

• We cannot take hot food however we can work with you to help rescue securely packaged catered food that is safely chilled or frozen.
• We cannot take food past its ‘use by’ date (however we can accept food past best before). 
• Alcoholic beverages. 
• Open packages where food can be exposed to cross-contamination. 

Once you’ve identified the food you want to give us, you can fill out this form, email us or call us on 0207 041 8491 with the following information:  

• type of food  
• best before/use by dates  
• storage type (ambient, chilled or frozen)  
• amount available (number of pallets, kilograms or units)  
• if unsure, you can also send us a photo of the goods  

If products need to be collected:  

• collection address  
• when we can collect (days and times)  
• collection contact email address and phone number  

If delivering:  

• when we can expect delivery  
• haulier (if any)  

We’ll collect within the M25 using one of our own vehicles or will use third party haulage outside of London. 

Yes, our warehouse operating hours are: Monday – Friday, 07.00 – 19.00 & Saturday, 08.00 – 15.00 

All of our vehicles are temperature controlled and able to safely transport chilled and frozen goods. 

Yes, before dates are about quality, not safety, so we are able to officially extend best before dates. Extensions depend on the type of product so please get in touch with our team to discuss. 

All of the food that we receive first comes to one our London depots, where it is sorted and checked by our staff and volunteer teams. Each item is then categorised and packed, ready to be loaded onto a van and delivered to one of our 375+ charities. 

Yes, please – please get in touch with our team at food@cityharvest.org.uk or call us on 0207 041 8491 and we’ll be happy to help.

City Harvest delivers nutritious surplus to 375+ charities across greater London feeding people facing food insecurity. Recipients span all areas of need, including; homeless shelters, soup kitchens, community centres, food banks, children’s programmes, schools, and more. Free food provision frees up budgets so partners can provide additional, vital services. 

We can return trays and farm equipment to your site.

We can often collect stock they can’t. Food that is very short dated or packaged incorrectly will make the products unsuitable for some food redistributors.  

We have a team of over 2,000 volunteers who help us to grade, sort and repackage items, saving you labour and time on redistribution.  

Collaboration. We’re part of the Xcess Network of national redistribution charities, and we work collaboratively with other food redistributors like FareShare and The Bread and Butter Thing to ensure no food is wasted and that it gets to the right people. 

• Corporate Volunteer Experience Days at City Harvest  
• Supporting your social and environmental impact messaging with our Impact Reports as well as marketing support. 
• We offer bespoke solutions for all types of food.  
• Conduct ‘Waste walks’ to help you unlock hidden food surplus throughout your supply chain. 

• We can accept delivery of food to our Acton warehouse at short notice Monday through Friday between 7am and 7pm, and Saturday between 8am and 3pm. 
• We can collect within the M25, with a minimum 24 hours’ notice Monday through Friday between 7am and 4pm, and Saturday between 7am and 2pm (depending on location). Minimum collection amount is 50kg.  
• We can also collect outside the M25 for a minimum amount of 1 pallet (min 250kg).