Australia’s largest charity kitchen coming to Brisbane in partnership with Foodbank.

Foodbank and FareShare are joining forces in Queensland to dramatically increase the number of free ready-to-eat meals available for Queenslanders in need.

Foodbank, Australia’s largest food relief organisation, and FareShare, Australia’s biggest charity kitchen, have just signed an agreement to reduce food waste and fight hunger with nutritious meals.

“Under this exciting new partnership, FareShare will establish a $4.5 million custom-built, production kitchen in Brisbane with the capacity to cook five million meals a year for people doing it tough,” said FareShare General Manager Kellie Watson.

Foodbank already distributes more than 44,000 kg of food a day to vulnerable Queenslanders supporting over 300 charities here in Queensland and over 220 school breakfast programs.  Quality food is sourced from farmers, primary producers, manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers.  By teaming up with FareShare, Foodbank can now also provide high quality cooked meals to those in need.

Foodbank Queensland CEO Michael Rose said, “the FareShare kitchen will provide an opportunity for Foodbank to rescue even more food, especially perishables and to reduce waste for donors, by converting surplus food into ready-made meals, rather than sending it to landfill.”

In its first year, the FareShare Queensland production kitchen aims to cook at least a million meals for Queenslanders in need from quality meat and vegetables donated by Foodbank’s generous food donors.

The collaboration plays to both partners’ strengths, tackling food insecurity and Australia’s $20 billion food waste problem head on. Foodbank will source ingredients and distribute meals through its existing network. FareShare will focus on what it does best – adding value to rescued food by cooking it into free, nutritious meals.

The FareShare kitchen will be established within 12 months, creating 5,000 wholesome meals a day including casseroles, curries and stir fries for distribution through Foodbank’s 300 agencies to help feed those in need.  The meals are designed to be easily reheated with no need for full cooking facilities, making them ideal for highly vulnerable people.