apetito, the UK’s leading food supplier to the health and social care sector, has today signed a pledge to take ground-breaking action to drive down food waste following a call to action from the government.

Joining over 100 of the UK’s biggest food brands, including all major supermarkets, apetito has signed a pledge committing to help halve food waste by 2030, and help raise public awareness of the issue through a week of action. Currently in the UK an estimated 10.2 million tonnes of food and drink are wasted annually after leaving the farm gate, worth around £20 billion. It is estimated that UK householders spend £15 billion every year on food that could have been eaten but ends up being thrown away, equating to £500 a year for the average household.

Matthew Norton, Director of Corporate Affairs & Policy says, “apetito is proud to stand alongside some of the UK’s largest food organisations and commit to tackling food waste. As a supplier of food to some of the most vulnerable people in society, we are always looking for ways to improve our operation and become a more sustainable business. A commitment to drive down food waste within our kitchens and distribution is an important step on that journey. Our aim as a business is to make a real difference, not only to our customers but to our environment and the world as a whole, joining this pledge shows our commitment to that.”

Environment Secretary Michael Gove said, “I am delighted to see so many UK food businesses commit to game-changing action to cut food waste, and I hope that others follow suit. The UK is showing real leadership in this area, but each year millions of tonnes of food is wasted. I want to thank our Food Surplus and Waste Champion for inspiring business to step up to the plate. Together we will end the environmental and economic scandal that is food waste.”