One Million Tins Of Baked Beans Delivered To Felix To Help Tackle UK Hunger

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One million tins of baked beans will be produced for people facing food insecurity this summer through an innovative partnership between Princes, Waitrose, Alliance Food Sourcing (AFS), and Felix (formerly The Felix Project and FareShare).

The collaboration will see cans of Branston Baked Beans distributed through Felix's network of over 8,000 community organisations, schools, food banks and community kitchens, providing thousands of meals for people who need them most.

Inspired by the legacy of The King’s Coronation Food Project, the project forms part of the wider work of Alliance Food Sourcing (AFS), a coalition that brings together leading UK food businesses to unlock surplus food and factory capabilities and turn it into meals for charities.

Unlike traditional food redistribution programmes that rely solely on surplus items, the donation of baked beans has brought together manufacturing, retail and charity partners to start donating the British store cupboard staple over the coming months.

By unlocking surplus factory capacity and supply-chain resources, the partnership has created a new way of getting more nutritious food to communities facing hunger. Princes is optimising its state-of-the-art facilities to produce additional volumes of beans during quieter periods throughout the year.

The move represents a shift in how the food industry addresses food insecurity. With standard retail surplus donations being inconsistent, the project gives a vital boost to the food supplies distributed by charities.

Waitrose is also currently trialling similar initiatives with its pasta supplier, Daybreak, and its fresh fruit supplier, Primafruit. Combined, the three initiatives are on track to divert the equivalent of over 1.9 million meals to Felix, the UK’s largest food rescue charity, by the end of the year.

David McDiarmid, Corporate Relations Director at Princes Group, said:

"Baked beans have been a cornerstone of the British kitchen for decades thanks to their versatility and long shelf life. We are delighted that our first successful venture with Alliance Food Sourcing is on Branston Baked Beans, as they provide an accessible and nutritious meal option, with one can containing over 24 grams of fibre."

"We have partnered with FareShare for over a decade and donations of stock is a matter of routine and something all our colleagues are passionate about, so we are proud to go ’beyond surplus’ food and instead use our manufacturing capability to actively produce food for people who need it."

Marija Rompani, Director of Ethics and Sustainability at Waitrose said:

"This isn't just about donating surplus food; it's about exploring how we can work closely with our suppliers to rewrite the rules in our supply chain and unlock surplus that can make a real difference to our communities."

Nicky Robinson, Director of Alliance Food Sourcing, said:

"We're delighted to see Waitrose, Princes, Daybreak and Primafruit showing what can be achieved by working together. By adapting their supply chains, food businesses can redirect factory capacity or rescue edible food to help tackle UK hunger. Innovations like these mean millions more meals are already reaching people who need them - often through relatively simple changes."

Charlotte Hill OBE, CEO of Felix said:

"Unfortunately the demand for food amongst the charities and organisations Felix supplies keeps rising. That is why projects like this are vital, it not only shows what partnerships and innovative thinking can achieve, it ensures Felix, which is the new name for merged charities FareShare and The Felix Project, receives a steady supply of a much sought after family favourite."

Access School, based at Holbrook Villa Farm, Harmer Hill, Shrewsbury, has been shortlisted for the prestigious Midlands Region ARC Alex Timpson Award in recognition of its work with in helping pupils adapt and learn to their educational setting, particularly those children who may have suffered trauma earlier in their life.

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Feb 27, 2025
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Bayne’s The Family Bakers proudly celebrates its 70th shop opening at Perth’s Inveralmond Retail Park. This significant milestone coincides with this much-loved Scottish bakery’s 70th anniversary and ongoing expansion, marking seven decades of growth, innovation, and deep-rooted community connections since Bayne’s was founded in 1954.

From a single bakery in Lochore, Fife, Bayne’s has flourished into a beloved Scottish institution, renowned for its quality baking and strong local connections. The company operates 70 shops across Scotland, with plans for continued expansion and further investment in the coming year.

Over the past 70 years, Bayne’s has evolved from a traditional home bakery into a leading player in the bakery food to go market. Driven by changing consumer preferences, the business has embraced convenience focused offerings, premium coffee, and home delivery services, positioning itself at the forefront of Scotland’s modern retail landscape.

Reflecting on the company’s growth, Bayne’s Joint Managing Director, John Bayne said:

“A decade ago, we had 490 colleagues supporting 52 shops. Today, we’ve nearly doubled our workforce to 960, ensuring we continue to bring fresh, quality baking to communities across Scotland. Looking ahead, we plan to open three to four new shops annually over the next decade while continuing to invest in product innovation and digital transformation to meet evolving customer needs.”

Bayne’s has grown strategically, expanding beyond Fife in 1975 to Perthshire with a shop in Kinross then steadily increasing its presence throughout Scotland. In the late 1990s to early 2000s Bayne’s saw further growth into Perth, Dundee, and Monifieth, followed by the opening of its first retail park ‘food to go’ shop in Stirling in 2006.

Bayne’s entered the Edinburgh market in 2012 and expanded into Glasgow in 2018. In 2021, the company launched its first drive-thru in Hillington. Most recently, in 2023, Bayne’s completed a freezer extension at its bakery, further enhancing production capacity to meet growing demand.

John Bayne added: “At Bayne’s, our customers are at the heart of everything we do. Whether it’s through our popular coffee card reward program, which offers a free coffee for every eight purchased, or our ‘Moments of Joy’ initiative, which empowers staff to provide complimentary treats for special occasions, we are committed to delivering exceptional experiences.”

Stanley Bayne, Chairman of Bayne’s, added:

"Seventy shops in our 70th year - it's a milestone that fills me with immense pride. My father, John, would be incredibly proud to see how far we've come; from opening our first shop in 1954 to opening our 70th shop today. Our success is a tribute to the generations of colleagues and bakers who have kept our ovens warm and our customers smiling. This new Perth shop is a symbol of our enduring commitment to Scottish baking traditions and the communities we serve."

Bayne’s the Family Bakers is committed to product innovation and enhancing its bakery and drinks range to meet evolving consumer tastes. The company is also investing in digital transformation, improving online ordering and home delivery services to meet growing demand for convenience.

Access School, based at Holbrook Villa Farm, Harmer Hill, Shrewsbury, has been shortlisted for the prestigious Midlands Region ARC Alex Timpson Award in recognition of its work with in helping pupils adapt and learn to their educational setting, particularly those children who may have suffered trauma earlier in their life.

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One Million Tins Of Baked Beans Delivered To Felix To Help Tackle UK Hunger

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