In a transformative and sustainable move for the food rescue and relief sector, SecondBite and FareShare have announced they will merge from July 1, 2024.
This major advancement will combine the incredible community-led culture of FareShare with the national scale and heartfelt reach of SecondBite, enabling a single solution for providing free, nutritious food to communities who need it most.
Founded in 2001, FareShare operates Australia’s largest non-profit kitchens in Melbourne and Brisbane, where chefs transform rescued and donated food, as well as produce grown on their own farms, into millions of delicious, nutritious meals for people in need.
These meals are given away free to frontline charities, such as soup vans, homeless shelters, women’s refuges, First Nations organisations and groups providing dignified food relief and providing the right meals to people most in need.
Founded in 2005, SecondBite was borne out of a realisation that perfectly healthy, edible food was being discarded and farmers and retailers, while millions of people faced hunger through food insecurity.
With operations in every state and territory, SecondBite works with farmers, retailers and manufacturers to harness surplus quality produce, providing it to more than 1000 charity partners supporting their communities experiencing food insecurity.
Food insecurity impacts the quality of life and the prospects of millions of Australians, with many people experiencing complex challenges. Despite the sustained efforts of many volunteers, charities, businesses and governments, food insecurity in our country continues to rise.
SecondBite and FareShare have long recognised the complementary nature of each organisation; realising that working together enables increased support to those in the community who need it most.
The merger is a timely and logical next step for the two organisations, after many years of collaboration at Board, executive and operational levels – including a longstanding commitment by SecondBite to supply ingredients with which FareShare cooks meals for SecondBite to distribute through its network.
Daniel Moorfield, CEO, said “We will have the ability to reduce the number of food insecure Australians, enabling them to achieve improved physical and mental wellbeing, and be best placed to reach their potential.”
“By combining each organisation’s strengths it will enable growth and the ability to support communities in need, resulting in a greater supply of food, as well as a more tailored approach, where the need is greatest.”
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